We have had an NDP MP for 22 years.  My supporters have told me that they have not seen any positive changes.  The Gordie Howe Bridge was a Conservative 

My name is Rafat Jafri,  and I stand before you not just as an immigrant and a successful business owner, but as a passionate advocate for the invisible threads that bind the very fabric of our society. I am a voice for the homeless, for those ensnared by the silent struggles of mental health, and for every single person here who dreams of a brighter tomorrow.

Our community faces a crisis that cannot be overlooked. The dream of homeownership, once a reachable milestone for our parents and grandparents, is slipping away from our youth and young adults. How long can we stand by as the promise of stability and security becomes a distant memory?

We are here today because we believe in action. We stand together because we know that our challenges do not discriminate—they affect single parents laboring endlessly to provide for their children, people on ODSP whose needs are greater than the support they receive, and seniors who have given a lifetime of service to see their golden years dimmed by financial worry. Even families with two incomes find themselves choosing between a meal and keeping the lights on. This is not the community we strive to be.

We demand more. We demand a government that not only hears but listens; a government that not only plans but acts. We are tired of promises aimed at a distant 2030, promises that are as fleeting as shadows at sunset. We need commitments that bring light to our lives now, fiscal responsibility that doesn’t just balance books but balances lives.

Together, we can reshape our future. We will advocate for policies that ensure affordable housing is not just a policy bullet point but a reality. We will fight for healthcare resources that address both physical and mental health because no one should suffer in silence. And we will demand that our government upholds its promises to us, the people, here and now—not in some far-off future where they no longer have to account for their words.

I pledge to fight tirelessly. Not just as a leader, but as a neighbor, as a friend, and as a fellow dreamer in this journey towards a just and prosperous community for all.