Dedicated Member of Parliament Anna Roberts champions the changes Canadians desperately need.

True leadership is distinguished by transparency, accountability and compassion. Canadians may feel they have been deprived of these virtues for far too long and need their leaders to demonstrate them now more urgently than ever.

Long-time public servant MP Anna Roberts sat down with City Life for an exclusive interview to explore ways in which she was moulded as a leader from a young age, the dramatic challenges Canadians are battling to overcome and what the future has in store for us.

Unsurprisingly, her time is split between her beloved King — Vaughan riding and Ottawa, where she represents and voices the concerns of the community in the great halls of the House of Commons. Unlike other leaders we have seen in similar positions of privilege and power, MP Roberts intimately understands the challenges her fellow Canadians face. Many Canadians believe that things have really gotten out of hand and that now is the time to make several critical decisions regarding leadership. After all, who we put at the top reflects the Canadian quality of life.

Q: How would you describe your childhood?
A: I had the pleasure and privilege of growing up with my grandparents and great-grandmother. My grandfather was a bricklayer and my grandmother raised me. They came to Canada from Italy in the 1950s for Canada’s promise: if you worked hard, you get a nice house, good food and a great life in a safe community. It’s the promise my family received and the promise that I want to restore for [your family].

Q: What role has your upbringing played in your professional career?
A: I was raised by Italian immigrants who came to this country with nothing. They taught me to work hard, be respectful and always help those around me. These values have stuck with me throughout my life and now, as an MP, have helped me embody being a servant of the people.

Q: What does leadership mean to you, and how do you embody that in your role as an MP?
A: In my role, being a leader is listening to my community and being their voice in Ottawa.

Q: What makes the King and Vaughan neighbourhoods special to you?
A: The King and Vaughan neighbourhoods are special because of their vibrant communities, rich cultural heritage and the hardworking, resilient people who live here. It’s a place where tradition meets progress and community spirit thrives.

Q: What three words would best describe and capture the essence of a resident in the King — Vaughan riding?
A: Resilient, community-minded and hardworking.

Q: Could you share a meaningful story from a recent encounter with a resident that touched you the most?
A: A few weeks ago, while knocking on doors in my community, I met an 89-year-old senior who immigrated to Canada from Italy in the 1960s. He worked tirelessly throughout his life to support his family. However, after nine years under Trudeau’s government, he is struggling to survive. He showed me his heating bill, revealing that he pays more in carbon tax than for the actual gas to heat his home. During the winter, he has to lower the temperature in his home to save money. He also has to shop very carefully to find the best deals on groceries because he can barely afford food. Unfortunately, stories like his have become all too common after nine years of Justin Trudeau’s leadership.

Q: As you look ahead to 2025, what are your personal goals as an MP?
A: Ultimately, my goal is to defeat Justin Trudeau and the NDP-Liberal government to form a common-sense Conservative majority government with Pierre Poilievre as Prime Minister. This will allow us to eliminate the carbon tax, build the homes that Canadians desperately need, fix the budget and keep repeat violent offenders in jail to stop the crime. Additionally, my private members’ motion M-123 has been put forward, which would recognize March 21st as National Down Syndrome Awareness Day. I would love to see this motion pass.

annarobertsmp.ca
@annarobertsmp