Newsletter – January 20th

It’s been an exciting two weeks spent here in Thornhill. Between holiday celebrations, local events, and meetings with many in our community, there’s been no shortage of things keeping me busy. 

Our leader, Pierre Poilievre, stopped by the neighbourhood and I returned to the Transport Committee to question Minister Omar Alghabra about delays at Canadian airports. 

There are a lot of exciting things coming up as well too: I hope you will join me for free skating on January 29th (information below). And, the House of Commons returns on January 30th – back to Parliament Hill to demand answers, accountability, and solutions for Canadians. 

As always, I remain here to serve you and listen to your concerns. Please reach out if my team can ever be of assistance. 

Here’s the latest on what’s happening in Ottawa, Thornhill, and beyond:

Melissa Lantsman

melissa@melissalantsman.ca


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Save the Date! FREE Community Skate

Join me on January 29th, 2023 for my annual community skate! Free entry for all at the Rosemount Community Centre. 


Working for you in Thornhill

I attended morning Christmas liturgy at St. Demetrius Ukrainian Orthodox Church alongside Pierre Poilievre and many other friends and colleagues. Merry Christmas to everyone who celebrated this month! 


I celebrated the lunar New Year at the Tet Festival alongside our friends in the Vietnamese community and the Leader of the Opposition. There’s so much to look forward to this year and much to be proud of in the one behind us. 


I was honoured to attend the ribbon cutting for Premier Sport and Spine. It’s always great to see passionate people in our community use their talents to serve others, grow their business, and make it right here in Thornhill. Premier Sport and Spine ties together 2 important things: small business success and helping others live better lives. Go check them out. 


A warm welcome from a great crowd of friends old and new in Vaughan-Woodbridge to support our Conservative message of hope. 🙏🙏 Ready for change.

Thanks to the Vaughan-Woodbridge Conservative Association, President Tony Domenichiello, and former Candidate of Record Angela Panacci for putting this together.


Thanks to YRDSB trustee Jenny Chen for stopping by the office today. We had a great conversation about our community and the work we can do together for the next Gen. 


I joined in on Pongal celebrations this week in Vaughan – wishing you lots of happiness and prosperity if you’re celebrating! 


Reena | Driving Change to Meet Growing Needs

It’s Reena’s 50th birthday! Reena is a staple of our community and a testament to the importance and impact of their life-changing work in the disabilities space. Thank you to everyone who has played a part in the past 5 decades. 

Watch my video message below:


Thank you to the staff at Kohl & Frisch for giving me a tour of your facility – giving me insight into the drug shortages in 🇨🇦 and the pressures they face in making sure Canadians are well served.


Flight 752: Third Anniversary

On January 8, 2020, a Ukrainian Airlines passenger aircraft was shot down over Tehran by two missiles launched by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps – a terrorist attack. The IRGC claimed the lives of all 176 people onboard including 55 Canadians. Their families and loved ones are still living in a nightmare without justice.

I paid my respects with the Iranian community at Elgin Mills Cemetery – a monument to the victims of Flight 752. 

I also visited the Flight 752 Commemoration in Toronto and spoke with thousands of mourners and activists calling for change. I promised them that I would do what the Liberals haven’t – list the IRGC as a terrorist organization.


Alongside Pierre Poilievre and my friend MP Anna Roberts, I visited a candlelight vigil to remember the many victims from our community. 


It’s been three years since Flight PS752 was shot down. It’s been three years of sustained violence, brutality, and oppression in Iran. It’s also been three years of platitudes, half-measures, and inaction from Ottawa.

We stand firmly with the friends and families of the victims – in Thornhill, across Canada, and in Iran. I stand with the millions of people seeking justice and freedom. We need a government that will do the same. List the IRGC. Ban them. Canada is not their safe haven. 


More Airport Chaos

Omar Alghabra promised that the airport chaos we saw over the summer would never happen again. The delays and cancellations over the holiday season prove otherwise.

Canadians sleeping at airports + cancellations + delays + many stuck abroad with no passenger protections and no one to call = a preventable disaster. 

I went to the Transport Committee to get answers. 


One of the things we learned: 

🇨🇦’s Transport Minister hasn’t spoken to a single airport & waited until Jan. 5 to call Sunwing who left travellers stranded since Dec. 19th.

Why does Justin Trudeau keep rewarding this Minister’s incompetence? 


Lantsman in the News

I sat down with Brian Lilley to discuss my work in the House of Commons, our new leader, and our shared vision for Canada. Listen below: 


It is an honour and a privilege to fight alongside Iranian Canadians to demand action of our own Liberal government and support those fighting for Women, Life, and Freedom. Thank you to Iran International TV for coming to our office and amplifying the voice of the community and our shared values of freedom, democracy and the rule of law.

Watch the interview here:


Community Opportunity

A message from the congregation of Beth Avraham Yoseph of Toronto (BAYT):

The BAYT is looking for direct input from people who live within 2 kilometers of 613 Clark Avenue West on a number of questions around a potential development of its parking lot and existing footprint.

Please take 10 minutes to complete the following survey, and provide your thoughts on what could be built on the Synagogue parking lot and what services would be of greatest benefit to the community.