
My first speech in the House of Commons
Added March 19, 2016 from Marwan Tabbara, Member of Parliament.
On March 9, 2016 I rose in the House of Commons to speak for the first time since I was elected. I thanked the residents of Kitchener South - Hespeler for electing me as the riding's first Member of Parliament and I paid tribute to the importance of Toyota Motor Manufacturing Canada to employment and economic activity in my riding.

Marwan Tabbara, M.P. at the House of Commons Committee on Citizenship and Immigration
Added March 19, 2016 from Marwan Tabbara, Member of Parliament.

Nowruz
Added March 24, 2016 from Marwan Tabbara, Member of Parliament.
Wishing a happy Nowruz to all those celebrating!

Happy Holi!
Added March 24, 2016 from Marwan Tabbara, Member of Parliament.

Marwan Tabbara Vaisakhi Greeting
Added April 11, 2016 from Marwan Tabbara, Member of Parliament.
Greetings from Marwan Tabbara, Member of Parliament, to all those celebrating Vaisakhi on April 13, 2016

National Day of Mourning
Added April 28, 2016 from Marwan Tabbara, Member of Parliament.
Hello. This is Marwan Tabbara, your Member of Parliament for Kitchener South - Hespeler. Every year, thousands of workers are killed, injured, or suffered illness as a result of work related incidents. Today marks the National Day of Mourning, a day where we pay our respects to, and remember these individuals. Workers reserve the right return home safe and sound at the end of each work day. Lets work together to prevent worker injuries and deaths before they occur.

Statement on Prisoners of Conscience in Iran
Added May 16, 2016 from Marwan Tabbara, Member of Parliament.
On May 16, 2016, during Iran Accountability Week,, on behalf of the members of the Subcommittee on International Human Rights, I expressed solidarity with prisoners of conscience and the people of Iran in a speech to the House of Commons.

Ramadan Greetings
Added June 7, 2016 from Marwan Tabbara, Member of Parliament.
Description

Congratulations Conestoga College Spring 2016 Graduates
Added June 9, 2016 from Marwan Tabbara, Member of Parliament.
Marwan Tabbara, Member of Parliament for Kitchener South - Hespeler congratulates the 4500 new 2016 graduates of Conestoga College.

World Refugee Day: Thanks to all those who help in Waterloo Region
Added June 17, 2016 from Marwan Tabbara, Member of Parliament.
Thanks to the sponsors and all the people in local government, settlement agencies and service providers and all the other organizations and associations that make our Waterloo Region such a welcoming place for newcomers.

Marwan Tabbara Canada Day Message
Added June 30, 2016 from Marwan Tabbara, Member of Parliament.
As we celebrate, let us always be proud of who we are.
I wish each and every one of you a very happy Canada Day!

Eid Mubarak!
Added July 6, 2016 from Marwan Tabbara, Member of Parliament.
As the holy month of Ramadan comes to a close, I’m delighted to extend my warmest greetings to members of the Muslim community celebrating Eid!

The plight of Sikhs and Hindus in Afghanistan
Added July 22, 2016 from Marwan Tabbara, Member of Parliament.
Marwan Tabbara, Member of Parliament for Kitchener South - Hespeler, asks witnesses appearing before the House of Commons Standing Committee on Citizenship and Immigration questions aimed at finding ways to assist Sikhs and Hindus suffering from severe discrimination in Afghanistan to resettle by private sponsorship in Canada.

Sexual and gender-based violence as weapons of war in South Sudan
Added July 22, 2016 from Marwan Tabbara, Member of Parliament.
Marwan Tabbara, Member of Parliament for Kitchener South - Hespeler, asks United Nation Human Rights Council Team Leader David Marshall about the findings of the use of sexual and gender-based violence in the Report of the Assessment Mission to South Sudan. Killings, sexual violence, kidnapping girls for use as sex slaves are being used as weapons of war, replies David Marshall.

Have elections improved life for the Rohingya minority in Myanmar?
Added July 22, 2016 from Marwan Tabbara, Member of Parliament.
Marwan Tabbara, Member of Parliament for Kitchener South - Hespeler asks witness Chris Lewa, Director of the Arakan Project, whether the situation of the Rohingya minority in Myanmar has improved since the election of a civilian government.

Eid Mubarak - Eid al-Adha 2016 09 12
Added September 12, 2016 from Marwan Tabbara, Member of Parliament.
Greetings to our brothers and sisters in the Muslim community in Canada at Eid al-Adha, September 12, 2016.

Happy Mid-Autumn Festival
Added September 14, 2016 from Marwan Tabbara, Member of Parliament.
Happy Mid-Autumn Festival

Say Hi Day: 10th Anniversary
Added September 23, 2016 from Marwan Tabbara, Member of Parliament.
Congratulations to the Waterloo Region District School Boards and the Waterloo Region Crime Prevention Council on the 10th anniversary of Say Hi Day.

Bill C-4: Restoring Balance to Labour Relations
Added September 27, 2016 from Marwan Tabbara, Member of Parliament.
Speaking in support of legislation to undo the previous government's attack on unions and restoring the balance in labour relations.

Inviting MPs to join Prime Minister Trudeau at Oktoberfest Opening
Added October 6, 2016 from Marwan Tabbara, Member of Parliament.
In my statement to the House of Commons I pointed out that one in every 10 Canadians is of German ethnic ancestry; one out of every five residents of Waterloo Region. This is the 48th annual Kitchener Waterloo Oktoberfest, a celebration of German heritage. On behalf of myself and the four other MPs from Waterloo Region I invited all MPs to join us and the Prime Minister as he taps the keg at the Oktoberfest opening ceremonies.

HMCS Windsor
Added October 27, 2016 from Marwan Tabbara, Member of Parliament.
On the deck of HMCS Windsor in the Atlantic off Halifax.

The Canada Child Benefit
Added November 3, 2016 from Marwan Tabbara, Member of Parliament.
I spoke in Parliament on November 3, 2016, congratulating Canadian Olympic athletes on their performance in Rio, with a shout out to 2 athletes from Kitchener South - Hespeler: boxer Mandy Bujold and swimmer Alec Elliot. I went on to discuss Budget Implementation Bill C-29 and its indexation to inflation of the Canada Child Benefit.

Remembrance Day Message
Added November 10, 2016 from Marwan Tabbara, Member of Parliament.
On Remembrance Day I pay tribute to those who serve and who have served, lest we forget.

Petition about human rights in Ethiopia
Added November 22, 2016 from Marwan Tabbara, Member of Parliament.
I presented a petition from the Waterloo—Wellington, Ontario branch of the Ethiopian Canadian Community Coalition for Social Justice in Human Rights in Ethiopia, containing hundreds of signatures from Waterloo and Wellington, drawing attention to serious violations of human rights, deaths, and violence arising in the recent unrest in Ethiopia.

Waterloo Region on the Hill Advocacy Day
Added November 30, 2016 from Marwan Tabbara, Member of Parliament.
I welcomed Waterloo Region Chair Ken Seiling, Kitchener Mayor Berry Vrbanovic, Waterloo Mayor Dave Jaworsky, Cambridge Councillor Mike Mann, Township of Woolwich Mayor Sandy Shantz, and the region's Chief Administrative Officer Mike Murray, to Parliament Hill as they visited the Governor General, the Prime Minister and several Ministers and Parliamentary Secretaries, to advocate on behalf of Waterloo Region.

Happy Holidays to students, faculty and staff!
Added December 13, 2016 from Marwan Tabbara, Member of Parliament.
Students throughout Canada are writing exams and looking forward to the holidays. I wish them excellent results and congratulate everyone working to educate the next generation of leaders. I wish students, faculty and staff and all Canadians a joyous holiday season and a New Year filled with peace and happiness.

Wishing you a very happy holiday season
Added December 19, 2016 from Marwan Tabbara, Member of Parliament.
Hi, I’m Marwan Tabbara
wishing everyone
in Kitchener South - Hespeler
a very happy holiday season!
This season is an opportunity for us to demonstrate
what it means to be Canadian.
It’s a time for giving,
generosity,
connecting
and celebrating.
Let’s embrace
the true meaning
of what this season is about.
Wishing you and your family
a very happy holiday season.

C-30 CETA: Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement
Added February 13, 2017 from Marwan Tabbara, Member of Parliament.
On February 8, 2017 I spoke in the House of Commons in support of the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement with the European Union. Trade means growth. Growth means jobs. Jobs mean opportunity for the middle class and those working hard to join the middle class.

National Flag of Canada Day 2017
Added February 16, 2017 from Marwan Tabbara, Member of Parliament.
On National Flag of Canada Day, February 15, 2017, I rose in the House of Commons to praise Diane Bonfonte and Gloria Rudner, founders of Flag Wavers of Waterloo Region and tireless volunteers in our riding. I asked Canadians to search Flag Wavers of Waterloo Region, listen to the video of students at Kitchener's Smithson Public School singing about our flag. Then, post a picture or video of themselves with the flag and inspire others to do the same. #canadianflag

Making travel to and from the U.S. easier and more efficient
Added March 7, 2017 from Marwan Tabbara, Member of Parliament.
On Monday, March 6, 2017 I spoke in the House of Commons in support of approving Bill C-23 at second reading so that we can complete the arrangements negotiated with President Obama to make it easier and more efficient to travel back and forth between Canada and the U.S. by improving our reciprocal pre-clearance arrangements.

Huron Natural Area Trail CIP150 Announcement
Added March 14, 2017 from Marwan Tabbara, Member of Parliament.
Canada 150 Community Infrastructure Program is ensuring residents here in Kitchener have access to improved community spaces. The Government of Canada is partnering with the City of Kitchener by contributing 50% of the funding for an $800,000 investment in improvement of the Huron Natural Area Trail System. Strolling trails in this natural setting, right here in South Kitchener, is leisure time well spent.

Push for Change
Added March 22, 2017 from Marwan Tabbara, Member of Parliament.
From homeless youth to successful entrepreneur, Joe Roberts is pushing a shopping cart right across Canada, 24 km per day for 17 months to raise money and awareness of the issue of homeless youth.

Global Skills Strategy: Hon. Ahmed Hussen, Minister of Immigration
Added March 23, 2017 from Marwan Tabbara, Member of Parliament.
On March 20, 2017, at the House of Commons Standing Committee on Citizenship and Immigration, I asked the Hon. Ahmed Hussen, Minister of Immigration, and officials from the Department to elaborate on the plan to ensure that Waterloo Region's high-tech industry would have ready access to global talent when needed.

What are we doing to help the innocent civilians in Syria?
Added April 6, 2017 from Marwan Tabbara, Member of Parliament.
Following a horrific chemical attack which killed and injured scores of innocent civilians, I asked Prime Minister Trudeau what Canada is doing to help innocent civilians in Syria.

Let's Go KW Titans!
Added May 5, 2017 from Marwan Tabbara, Member of Parliament.
There's a new team in town, the Kitchener-Waterloo Titans Basketball Club. It's their first season and the playoffs are here.

Presenting Brad Fach's Petition e-739
Added May 17, 2017 from Marwan Tabbara, Member of Parliament.
On May 16, 2017, in the House of Commons, I presented Petition e-739, which was started by constituent Brad Fach, sponsored by me, and which was signed by 1,863 Canadians. It asks for a review of the new lottery selection process for selection of parent and grandparent immigration sponsorship applications.

Ramadan 2017
Added May 26, 2017 from Marwan Tabbara, Member of Parliament.
Ramadan Mubarak! Wishing you and your family a peaceful and happy Ramadan!

C-45 Cannabis Act
Added June 4, 2017 from Marwan Tabbara, Member of Parliament.
On June 1, 2017 I spoke during the House of Commons debate on Bill C-45, the Cannabis Act, which represents a new approach to cannabis, one that puts public health and safety at the forefront, and will better protect young Canadians.

Portugal Day
Added June 6, 2017 from Marwan Tabbara, Member of Parliament.
I wish all Portuguese-Canadians in Kitchener South - Hespeler:
Feliz Dia de Portugal, de Camões e das Comunidades Portuguesas!

Affordable Telecom
Added June 6, 2017 from Marwan Tabbara, Member of Parliament.
During Question Period on Monday, June 5th, 2017, I asked the Minister of Innovation what the government was doing to make internet and wireless telecommunication more affordable for Canadians.

World Refugee Day 2017
Added June 7, 2017 from Marwan Tabbara, Member of Parliament.
June 20th is a day on which the world honors the courage, strength and determination of women, men and children who are forced to flee their homeland under threat of persecution, conflict and violence. This year the theme is "Embracing Refugees to celebrate our Common Humanity". In Waterloo Region, on June 7th this year, the Community Coalition on Refugee and Immigrant Concerns has organized a World Refugee Day launch event at The Museum. My duties in the House of Commons prevent me from being present in person, so I prepared this video greeting for the launch participants.

Toyota Hydrogen Car on The Hill 20170607
Added June 7, 2017 from Marwan Tabbara, Member of Parliament.
On June 7, 2017 on Parliament Hill I test drove a zero emissions Toyota powered by hydrogen. Its only by-product: water; no carbon emissions. So much better for our planet.

Eid al Fitr 2017
Added June 24, 2017 from Marwan Tabbara, Member of Parliament.
Happy Eid!

Canada Day 2017
Added June 29, 2017 from Marwan Tabbara, Member of Parliament.
Happy Canada Day 2017. It's the 150th anniversary of Confederation.

Canada 150 Award of Excellence
Added June 30, 2017 from Marwan Tabbara, Member of Parliament.
The Canada 150 Award of Excellence will recognize 20 residents of Kitchener South-Hespeler for their contribution to our community. Nominations are now being sought.

Eid al Adha 2017
Added September 1, 2017 from Marwan Tabbara, Member of Parliament.
Greetings to those in Waterloo Region celebrating Eid al-Adha.

Waterloo Regional Police Male Chorus
Added September 22, 2017 from Marwan Tabbara, Member of Parliament.
Waterloo Regional Police Male Chorus Sergeant-at-Arms, John Van Osch of Waterloo, has been singing in the Chorus for 35 years, and Rich Mader for 23 years. They've helped the Chorus raise over a million dollars for worthy causes. Volunteerism is alive and well in Waterloo Region.

Emergency Debate on the plight of the Rohingya
Added September 27, 2017 from Marwan Tabbara, Member of Parliament.
On September 26, 2017 the House of Commons held an emergency debate on the persecution of the Rohingya minority in Myanmar's Rakhine State.

Asylum Seekers
Added October 6, 2017 from Marwan Tabbara, Member of Parliament.
At the October 5th, 2017 meeting of the House of Commons Standing Committee on Citizenship and Immigration I asked the Minister of Public Safety and the Minister of Immigration about asylum seekers entering Canada irregularly.