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Weekly Update From Kenora MP Eric Melillo

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The federal government hasn’t done enough to combat aluminium tariffs put on by the American government.

That’s the feeling of Kenora MP Eric Melillo.

U.S. President Donald Trump’s 10% tariff on Canadian aluminium imports came into effect on Sunday, despite Canada’s plan to hit back with $3.6 billion in countermeasures.

Melillo says the Trudeau government new weeks in advance the tariffs were going to be placed.

“Conservatives are really asking to see the government take a stronger stance and show that we’re not going to stand for those kind of tariffs.

Melillo adds “I think that this government has let down our aluminium workers and let down Canadians. The United States administration, they were foreshadowing new tariffs on Canadian aluminium for weeks, and our government failed to take on a stronger stance.”

Saying that Melillo stresses retaliatory measures were needed.

The U.S. administration announced the new tariff on August 6.

In announcing the new trade action, President Donald Trump claimed that the American aluminium business has been “decimated” by Canada, calling it “very unfair” and accusing Canadian producers of flooding the U.S. with exports.

A recent opinion survey conducted by polling firm Leger and the Association for Canadian Studies found that 58% of American respondents said they disagreed with the 10% import tax.

In what comes as less of a surprise, 90% of Canadians who took part in the survey objected to the White House’s tariff.

Eric Melillo made the comments as well as offered his weekly update to constituents:

Coming together in a crisis

Last week, forest fires forced residents of Red Lake and Eabametoong (Fort Hope) First Nation to evacuate.

As the province led the successful evacuation efforts, my office liaised with all levels of government to offer our support. On Tuesday, I headed to Dryden to drop off supplies and help set up emergency shelter. My staff and I also kept in constant contact with government officials and community groups to get updates and connect people with resources.

Red Lake Mayor Fred Mota and Eabametoong Chief Harvey Yesno deserve full credit for their role in managing these crises. I’d also like to sincerely thank the firefighters, pilots, and other first responders who battled the blazes and helped the evacuations run smoothly, as well as all the municipalities, businesses, and private citizens who opened their doors to evacuees.

Amid this terrible situation, it’s been heartening to see our community come together to support those affected. Whether you provided emergency housing; donated food, clothing, or funds; or provided an evacuee with a shower and a cup of coffee, you should be proud of your efforts to make these hard times a little bit easier.

Good news for the riding

I was happy to join Minister Greg Rickford at his announcement providing a $300,000 investment in public safety.

The Ontario government is providing $300,000 to the Treaty 3 Police Service, in collaboration with community partners, to implement the Spirit of Hope initiative to combat sexual violence and human trafficking.

I am thankful to the province for investing in the safety of our communities, and I will continue to press the federal government to step up and be a partner in these efforts.

In the Community:

Last week, I spent a day in Sioux Lookout to meet with municipal officials. CAO Michelle Larose gave me an update on various local projects, and I enjoyed catching up with Councillor Connor Howie to chat about local concerns.

I recently visited Dryden, where I met with Council to learn about their plan for establishing an Indigenous Working Circle within the community. I also appreciated the opportunity to chat with constituents at the Cloverbelt Farmers Market and participate in a ride-along with the Dryden Police Services.

At your service:

As always, if there is anything my office can assist you with, or if you would like to arrange a meeting, please do not hesitate to call me at 807-468-2170 (Kenora) or 807-223-2182 (Dryden) or contact me by email at eric.melillo@parl.gc.ca.

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Eric Melillo Weekly Update

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Connecting with the Community

Dear Constituents,

I hope everyone has been staying safe and healthy this summer.

I’ve spent the last week travelling the riding talking to constituents and other elected officials about issues facing our region.

At the beginning of last week, I was accompanied by my Conservative colleague from Parry Sound-Muskoka, MP Scott Aitchison, who joined me for meetings with Mayor Griffiths in Machin as well as several local business owners. Thanks to Gord and Susanne at Vermilion Bay Lodge and Liz and Robin from Crystal Lake Campground for having us over and sharing their thoughts on the government’s pandemic response and how to get our economy back on track.

I also visited Eagle Lake with my constituency staff and attended some great community events across the riding. I had a great time helping out at the Blueberry Festival in Sioux Lookout (and handing out some cupcakes!), as well as stopping by Ontario Aboriginal Housing Services Building in Dryden to donate fresh fruit for Grand Council Treaty #3’s free community barbeque.

Later in the week, Mayor Kahoot organized an informative afternoon meeting with residents of Ear Falls. I also appreciated the opportunity to chat with more constituents and meet with Deputy Mayor Janet Hager and CAO Mark Vermette in Red Lake.

I always appreciate hearing from constituents about the issues they are facing – it helps me and my staff better serve you in the Kenora riding and advocate for you in Ottawa.

As always, if there is anything my office can assist you with, or if you would like to arrange a meeting, please do not hesitate to call me at 807-468-2170 (Kenora) or 807-223-2182 (Dryden) or contact me by email at eric.melillo@parl.gc.ca.

Sincerely,

Eric Melillo

Member of Parliament – Kenora riding

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Eric Melillo Weekly Update

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The MP for Kenora is calling for federal support for remote air carriers.

Eric Melillo says some airlines in the region have temporarily suspended service to certain communities, and many are struggling to meet regional needs because of COVID-19.

He has sent a letter to Minister of Transport Marc Garneau.

The letter referred to a constituent from a remote fly-in community who had expressed concerns about shipping backlogs, delayed deliveries, and lost and damaged packets, which were attributed to the limited number of flights due to COVID-19.

Melillo is suggesting that this is a symptom of the “larger issue” of smaller airlines struggling to sustain operations.

The Conservative members says the government needs to examine ways they can support impacted airlines to ensure that they are able to continue to serve their communities.

He stresses without help our region is at risk of falling through the cracks.

Here is the weekly update from Kenora MP Eric Melillo:

Fighting for Our Community

The Kenora riding has been uniquely impacted by this pandemic, and I am fighting to ensure we aren’t left behind.

Our region is facing distinct challenges related to our geography, particularly our proximity to the United States and the remoteness of many of our communities.

For instance, the lack of reliable broadband in rural and remote areas is swiftly becoming a crisis in the era of COVID-19. As a result of this public health crisis, Canadians are being asked to work from home as much as possible, and education, healthcare, mental health, financial and legal services moving increasingly online.

The Conservative Party has proposed practical solutions to provide internet service to rural and remote communities. I recently wrote to Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry Navdeep Bains urging the government to implement these measures as soon as possible, and to empower local communities to innovate.

Our region’s supply chains, especially in our northernmost areas, are also particularly vulnerable at this time. Northern air carriers are essential for transporting goods and services to remote regions of Ontario, but they’ve been hit hard by COVID-19. As a result, many of these airlines are struggling to meet the needs of the communities they serve, with some temporarily limiting or suspending service to certain areas.

Last week, I contacted Transport Minister Marc Garneau urging him to consult with these airlines to determine what supports the government can provide.

Finally, many of our local businesses – including tourism operators and outfitters, restaurants, and retail shops – are heavily reliant on visitors from outside the riding, and may not fully recover until borders re-open and regular travel resumes. For many business owners in the Kenora riding, the current supports offered by the government are simply not enough.

Since this crisis began, I’ve been advocating for improvements to the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy (CEWS) and the Canada Emergency Business Account (CEBA) to help more businesses qualify. I’ve also been working with local tourism operators to call for federal grants to help them survive this crisis.

Relatedly, I am glad that Bill C-20: An Act respecting further COVID-19 measures is working its way through Parliament. Bill C-20 amends the wage subsidy to allow a broader range of employers to qualify and provide additional support to those hardest-hit, as well as enabling a one-time payment for Canadians with disabilities. The Bill passed through the House of Commons last week; as of Friday, July 24th, it still has to pass through the Senate.

I am happy to work with Members of all Parties and levels of government to get results for our riding.

As always, if there is anything my office can assist you with, or a cause you would like me to take up in Ottawa, please do not hesitate to contact me by phone at 807-468-2170 or by email at eric.melillo@parl.gc.ca.

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Weekly Update From Kenora MP Eric Melillo

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Kenora MP Eric Melillo is continuing his push for reliable broadband and internet service in rural and remote parts of northern Ontario.

The Conservative member says right now many of his constituents don’t have access to online services.

Melillo says the ability to conduct business online or do appointments over video chat would be a game-changer.

He stresses many people in this region are at risk of being left behind.

Melillo says he’s reached out to the Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry urging him to act with haste to ensure all Canadians have reliable internet service.

Melillo made the remarks in his weekly media briefing.

Dear Constituents,

I hope everyone is keeping safe and healthy as our region enters Phase 3 of Ontario’s re-opening. Rest assured, I am continuing to fight for constituents impacted by this pandemic.

Fighting for rural internet

The lack of reliable broadband in rural and remote areas has become a crisis in the era of COVID-19.

The ability to conduct business online or do appointments over video chat would be a game-changer for many rural Canadians – especially those who live in remote areas which currently require service providers to fly in from afar. But right now, many of my constituents don’t have that option.

With education, healthcare, and mental health, financial and legal services moving increasingly online, rural and remote Canadians are at risk of being left behind.

Last week, I wrote to Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry Navdeep Bains urging him to act with haste to ensure reliable internet service for all Canadians.

The Conservative Rural Internet Caucus recently released a policy document outlining both long- and short-term solutions to provide internet service to rural and remote communities. I am urging the government to act with haste to implement these measures, and to empower local internet service providers to provide innovative solutions.

Prime Minister Trudeau under investigation again

The Conservative Opposition was rightly critical when the Liberal government awarded WE Charity, an organization to which Prime Minister Trudeau and his family have close ties, a sole-sourced contract to run a $900 million program.

It’s since come out that WE has paid the Prime Minister’s immediate family hundreds of thousands of dollars in speaking fees.

Prime Minister Trudeau is now being investigated by Canada’s Ethics Commissioner. (This is unfortunately a familiar situation for Justin Trudeau – he’s been found guilty of violating ethics laws twice before).

The Prime Minister has apologized for failing to recuse himself from Cabinet discussions about giving this contract to WE – but in this case, sorry shouldn’t cut in. As Prime Minister, he absolutely should have known better.

Liberal Finance Minister Bill Morneau is also under investigation by the Ethics Commissioner. He also neglected to recuse himself from discussions about WE Charity – even though his daughter works for them.

This is not how an honest, ethical government behaves.

An unfortunate side-effect of this scandal is that this irresponsible behavior from the Liberal government throws yet another wrench in the roll-out of the Canada Student Service Grant, which has already suffered delays. Canada’s youth deserve better. Canadians deserve better.

Fiscal Snapshot

The Liberal government recently released their “fiscal snapshot,” and it paints a disturbing picture.

Canada has racked up over $1 trillion in debt. We have the highest unemployment in the G7, and we’ve lost our AAA credit rating. This year’s deficit alone is well over $343 billion.

The Conservative Party is in favour of measures to get support to people who need it. That’s why we supported the Canadian Emergency Response Benefit (CERB) and the Canada Emergency Student Benefit (CESB), and why we’ve urged the government to make changes to the Canada Emergency Business Account (CEBA) and Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy (CEWS) eligibility criteria to allow more Canadians to benefit.

But we would have been better able to financially support those in need if the Liberals had exercised some fiscal restraint before this pandemic. If the Liberals hadn’t spent so recklessly earlier in their mandate, Canada would have been in a stronger financial position to weather this crisis. And if they hadn’t raised taxes on individuals and businesses, more Canadians would have been able to save for hard times.

But what bothers me the most is that the Liberals don’t have a plan to get our economy moving.

The Conservatives have been proposing constructive solutions that would help Canadians get back to work and allow businesses to keep their doors open. Our proposed Back to Work Bonus, for instance, is a CERB top-up that would allow Canadians to return to work gradually without losing their full benefit – a win-win for workers and business owners.

I know that Canada is in an unprecedented situation. But the government has had months to adjust to this new reality and to begin the plan for the future. We should be talking about recovery – instead, it seems the Liberal government’s long-term goal is to keep Canada on life support.

The Conservative Party will continue to propose practical policies to get our economy moving while protecting the health and safety and Canadians. I’m also personally fighting for targeted support for Northern Ontario.

In the Community

Last weekend, I had the pleasure of hosting my Conservative colleagues MP Garnett Genuis and MP Arnold Viersen during their visit to Northwestern Ontario. After an insightful roundtable discussion about issues impacting marginalized groups in Thunder Bay, we headed to Kenora for a productive meeting with Chief Lorraine Cobiness of Niisaachewan, Chief Chris Skead of Wauzhushk Onigum, and Marie Seymour and Shirley Kelly from Shooniyaa Wa-Biitong.

Later in the week, I was happy to join Kenora Mayor Dan Reynard and Council to celebrate the city’s re-opening, and to chat with residents at a BBQ hosted by Ignace Mayor Penny Lucas. I also enjoyed a productive meeting with Council members in Pickle Lake, where I also had the opportunity to do a ride-along with members of the local OPP.

At Your Service

As always, if there is anything my office can assist you with, or a cause you would like me to take up in Ottawa, please do not hesitate to contact me by phone at 807-468-2170 or by email at eric.melillo@parl.gc.ca.

Sincerely,

Eric Melillo

Member of Parliament – Kenora riding

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Fight To Help Local Outfitters Continues

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The MP for Kenora believes the tourism sector can play a big role in helping Canada’s economy get back on its feet.

Eric Melillo says he continues to advocate for the local industry but so far the government hasn’t listened.

“I’ve been having so many different conversations with Ministers. Writing letters, having phone calls, asking questions in Committee. They tell me that they are listening but they haven’t made any action so I think that their actions speak for themselves.”

Melillo says the government must provide a lot more flexibility in the COVID-19 programs that have been unveiled.

The Conservative member stresses he will keep pushing and wants honest, straight forward answers to questions when it comes to things like when the border with the U.S. will re-open as well as a national plan to restart the economy.

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Kenora MP “Shocked” With Economic Update

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The MP for Kenora is shocked the federal government didn’t provide a recovery plan after announcing a projected $343-billion deficit during Wednesday’s economic update.

Eric Melillo claims the Liberals seem content to keep our economy on “life support.”

Melillo says Canada has the highest unemployment in the G7, lost its AAA credit rating, and the total debt has ballooned over $1-trillion.

The Conservative says we are the only G7 nation that doesn’t have a comprehensive plan to restart our economy.

“We would have really liked to see some kind of road map. Even suggestions of policies from the Liberals on how we can begin to shift away from the temporary COVID-19 measures,” Melillo says.

Melillo claims the fact the Liberals were running high deficits during the relatively good economic times put Canada in an even worse position to respond to the pandemic.

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Kenora MP Eric Melillo Weekly Update

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Dear Constituents

I hope everyone had a safe and Happy Canada Day last week.

This summer is looking much different than anyone had expected even a few months ago, with many rituals and traditions being postponed or reconfigured. It’s certainly been a bittersweet time for young people, who are moving onto the next stages of their lives without the rites of passage that would normally have been afforded to them.

I’m grateful to have had the opportunity to speak to many graduating students from the Kenora riding over the past few months. It was also my pleasure to congratulate the cadets from 256, 774, 2072, 270, 645, and 906 Royal Canadian Sea, Army, and Air Cadets on finishing their training year.

Our students are graduating into a very different world than they were expecting, and the coming months and years will undoubtedly present challenges. However, there will also be opportunities for those who are able innovate and seek new ways of doing things. I know that our young people are resilient and uniquely qualified to embrace this changing world.

This has also, of course, been an incredibly difficult time for tourism operators and other business owners reliant on visitors from the U.S. and other parts of Canada. The Liberal government has not done nearly enough to help keep these businesses afloat. Our tourism operators need financial support from the government, which is why I’ve been continuously fighting for grants for the industry.

Proposing a Back to Work Bonus

These have been uncertain times for workers and employers alike.

As the Ontario economy re-opens, I’ve heard from many constituents who are eager to get back to work, but still concerned about their financial stability, as well as many local employers who are struggling to recruit workers.

That’s why my Conservative colleagues and I are proposing the Back to Work Bonus.

The Back to Work Bonus would improve the Canada Emergency Response Benefit by providing a top-up to workers making between $1000-$5000/month, ensuring that Canadians aren’t penalized for picking up a shift or gradually returning to work

Under the Conservative plan, Canadians who lost their jobs through no fault of their own during the pandemic would continue to receive their full $2,000 CERB. In addition, as businesses reopen, workers who make between $1,000 and $5,000 per month would qualify for a CERB top-up that would be gradually phased out by 50 cents for every extra dollar earned over the $1,000 threshold.

For a part-time server making $2,000 per month, the Back to Work Bonus would result in a top-up of $1,500, for a total monthly income of $3,500.

Meanwhile, under the current Liberal plan, workers lose their entire CERB when they earn even one dollar over the $1,000 monthly limit. While Justin Trudeau announced he would be extending eligibility for the CERB by eight weeks, he has failed to fix the program so that workers and businesses can get back on the job and contribute to our economic recovery.

Conservatives believe that federal COVID-19 support programs need to be more flexible and generous than that.

I’ve spoken to many workers and business owners in the Kenora riding who have been struggling to access existing COVID-19 supports due to restrictive eligibility criteria. Our Party has been urging the government to fix the flaws in these programs to allow more people to qualify.

I hope the Liberal government will take our advice and implement these constructive solutions as soon as possible. If you agree, I encourage you to write to Finance Minister Bill Morneau (bill.morneau@parl.gc.ca) to express your support for these reforms.

At Your Service

As always, if there is anything my office can assist you with, or a cause you would like me to take up in Ottawa, please do not hesitate to contact me by phone at 807-468-2170 or by email at eric.melillo@parl.gc.ca.

Sincerely,

Eric Melillo

Member of Parliament – Kenora riding

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Weekly Update From Eric Melillo

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Kenora MP Eric Melillo believes the COVID-19 scare on local first nations is being handled appropriately.

Melillo says health officials are taking very seriously the six cases reported this past week.

“Continuing to monitor the situation. I’ve been in touch with local officials as well as with the Department of Health and Indigenous Services to make sure that the resources are there that these communities need in order to respond to this crisis.”

Melillo says health officials and communities are treating the outbreak responsibly and safely.

He stresses as long as people are behaving in a safe and responsible way, there’s no reason we can’t open our economy up, despite the extra cases.

Melillo recently raised the coronavirus response issue with Treaty #3 Grand Chief Francis Kavanaugh.

To here more from Eric Melillo on that meeting, conversations with Kenora District Services Board Chief Administrative Officer Henry Wall on homelessness as well as Summer meetings with constituents, listen to the Audio link below.

Here is the weekly report from Kenora MP Eric Melillo

Dear Constituents,

Lately I’ve been busy meeting with local business owners, volunteers, and community leaders across the Kenora riding.
I’ve had many valuable conversations with local tourism operators over the past few months. Recently, I had the chance to meet with some of them in-person in Dryden to reiterate my support.

Tourism operations are in a particularly precarious position during this crisis, due to high start-up and maintenance costs and their reliance on cross-border tourists. Their situation has been worsened by lack of clarity on re-opening dates and by the insufficient federal response.

Since this crisis began, I’ve been advocating for measures to support our tourism industry, including direct funding and grants from the federal government, as well as more concrete information about when we can expect the Canada-US border to re-open.
I was also happy to speak to Grand Council Treaty 3 Ogichidaa Francis Kavanaugh about issues facing Indigenous constituents, including COVID-19 response, community policing, and support for First Nations businesses.

Additionally, I had a productive discussion with representatives from the Kenora District Services Board to discuss how the government can work to address housing security, homelessness, and technological divides that hinder access to social services.

The current crisis is having a disproportionate impact on our most vulnerable, underscoring the need for more infrastructure investments in our region. I look forward to continuing to collaborate with constituents, stakeholders, and my colleagues from all parties to get action on these important files.

I truly appreciate hearing from my constituents about issues that affect their lives. Your feedback helps me serve you better in Parliament.

As always, if there is anything my office can assist you with, or a cause you would like me to take up in Ottawa, please do not hesitate to contact me by phone at 807-468-2170 or by email at eric.melillo@parl.gc.ca.

Sincerely,

Eric Melillo

Member of Parliament – Kenora riding

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Kenora MP Endorses “Back To Work” Bonus

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The Liberal government is being encouraged to implement a proposed “Back to Work” Bonus.

The idea has been pitched by the federal Conservatives and it would put more money in the pocket of those who have been impacted by COVID-19 shutdowns.

Kenora MP Eric Melillo says under the plan, those who lost their jobs would continue to receive their full $2,000 Canada Emergency Response Benefit, but as businesses reopen, select workers would receive a top-up.

“Workers who make between $1,000 and $5,000 per month would qualify for a CERB top-up that would be gradually phased out by 50 cents for every extra dollar earned over the $1,000 threshold.”

For a part-time server making $2,000 per month, the Back to Work Bonus would result in a top-up of $1,500, for a total monthly income of $3,500.

Melillo says despite record unemployment numbers, there are still many employers who are facing staffing shortages.

“Right now as it stands the CERB benefit penalizes those who want to work. Because once they surpass $1,000 of earned income, they will lose their support and will actually be worse off.”

Melillo notes since the health crisis started, the Conservatives have been proposing constructive solutions to make relief programs more flexible and generous.

“We think this is a very reasonable solution to a problem that we are seeing. We want people to get back to work once it’s safe to do so while maintaining support for those who are still out of work through no fault of their own.”

 

 

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Kenora MP Pushing For Extension Of Benefit Programs

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Kenora MP Eric Melillo is hoping the Prime Minister stays true to his word on providing more clarification on the future of the Canada Emergency Response Benefit.

Justin Trudeau indicated Monday an announcement about extending the CERB program would be coming this week.

Melillo says “That program can actually be extended without legislation until October. They need to provide some clarity so that folks across the riding know, and across Canada know, how long the benefit will exist for.”

He is also pushing for an extension to the wage subsidy for businesses which ends on Friday, which requires legislation.

Melillo says “The Conservative party actually brought forward a motion in Committee last week which would have recalled the House of Commons so that we could debate and pass legislation that would extend the wage subsidy, however the government prevented that from happening.”

He adds “With our limited Parliament right now and the fact that we’re not having regular sessions and we don’t have our regular powers. We’ve been severely limited by this government on what we are able to do and therefore they have put us in a situation where we are not going to be able to extend these programs as much as we need to.”

 

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