LONDON, Ont. — His Majesty King Charles III’s throne speech marked the start of a new session of Parliament, offering members a renewed opportunity to address concerns from their constituencies.
London MP Peter Fragiskatos said he is well aware of the issues facing residents in his riding and plans to bring them forward during the new session.
When asked what Canadians can expect from the Liberal party under new leadership, Fragiskatos said the focus will be clear.
“A government that is squarely focused on the economy and, in particular, U.S.-Canada relations unlike we’ve ever seen,” he said.
Fragiskatos highlighted that southwestern Ontario remains one of the regions hardest hit by tradetensions and tariffs.
“London is part of southwestern Ontario. Southwestern Ontario is the region of Canada that is most impacted by the tariff threats put in place by Donald Trump,” he said. “So making sure that our relationship with the United States is put on a proper footing, that we stand up for Canada and make sure that our businesses are protected has particular relevance for the southwest — and London is included in that, of course.”
Housing remains another top priority for the London MP. He pointed to his past work on initiatives like new zoning laws to improve housing availability.
“Housing and homelessness issues are ever present. We have to make sure that we get more homes built to get people off the street and under a roof,” he said.
Fragiskatos added that wraparound supports are essential.
“Having mental health workers on site, nurses on site, three meals a day, job training opportunities — all of these vital things will continue to be very relevant. We’re going to need the City of London and the provincial government to partner with us as part of that.”
Affordability is another key concern.
“It is expensive to go to the grocery store. It’s expensive to—well, just the cost of living on so many different metrics continues to be a challenge for Londoners,” he said. “One of the first things the government will be doing, as the prime minister articulated a few days ago, is introducing a tax cut for the middle class.”
While the future of U.S. tariffs remains uncertain, Fragiskatos said the call for action from Londoners is being heard.
