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Kenora MP

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Melillo Acclaimed As Conservative Candidate For The Kenora Riding

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Eric Melillo has been acclaimed as the Conservative candidate for the Kenora Riding for the next federal election.

Melillo was the surprise winner in the last federal election in the Kenora Riding in October of 2019, defeating incumbent Liberal Bob Nault and Rudy Turtle from the NDP.

In accepting the nomination Melillo says he will continue to work for his constituents.

“A Conservative government will support Canadian workers, create opportunities in the North, and bring accountability and integrity back to Parliament,” state Melillo.

“I am proud to be a part of this team, and I look forward to continuing to be a voice for the Kenora riding.”

A federal election is widely expected this spring.

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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 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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Kenora MP Back In Ottawa For Meetings

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Kenora MP Eric Melillo is back in Ottawa this week.

The Conservative member is taking part in a COVID-19 pandemic committee meeting.

Parliament has been adjourned for the summer.

Melillo says “We have no real expectation of what’s going to happen come September but Conservatives are going to continue to push for the House of Commons to resume its normal operations so that we can hold this government to account.”

Melillo says it doesn’t matter if it is in-person, or a hybrid model, where some of the members are joining in via video-conference.

 

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Eric Melillo Weekly Column

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Kenora MP Eric Melillo is endorsing Erin O’Toole for the leadership of the Federal Conservatives.

Melillo believes the southern Ontario MP has what it takes to win the next election.

“He took the opportunity to come up to our riding in one of his first stops. He came through Kenora, had a stop in Vermilion Bay, also off to Thunder Bay. So he spent a lot of time in northern Ontario. He understands a lot of the issues we face in the rural areas, in the remote areas, particularly in the First Nations.”

Melillo adds “He’s from a suburban GTA riding and from a Conservative standpoint we understand that those are ridings that we need to win in order to win the next election and form government.”

He says O’Toole has the experience and the proven ability needed to unite the party.

The others seeking to replace outgoing leader Andrew Scheer are Derek Sloan, Peter McKay and Leslyn Lewis.

Here is the weekly update from Kenora MP Eric Melillo:

Standing up for businesses and workers in the Kenora riding

Dear constituents,

Thank you once again for the steps you’ve been taking to help each other and protect public health. It’s been heartening to see our communities come together, even as this crisis requires us to distance ourselves physically.

I am glad that the Ontario government is taking cautious, common-sense steps to gradually re-open the economy. Retail stores with street entrances have recently been permitted to re-open (with social distancing measures), as have campgrounds and other businesses. This will be a relief to many workers and business owners in the Kenora riding.

At the federal level, my Conservative colleagues and I have been urging the government to overhaul their programs to make them more accessible for businesses. After weeks of continuous advocacy, I’m happy to report that the government has finally implemented some of our proposals.

For instance, the government has expanded eligibility for the Canada Emergency Business Account (CEBA) to include sole proprietors (owner operators), dividend earners, and business owners employing contractors. This will be good news for many Kenora riding entrepreneurs.

I was disappointed, however, that the government hasn’t removed the requirement for businesses to have a business account. This requirement has been a barrier to many small business owners who use personal accounts for banking.

The government also recently announced that the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy (CEWS) will be extended beyond June for eligible businesses. This is something I’ve been pushing for, as the initial timeframe of the CEWS was too limited to benefit many seasonal industries in the Kenora riding.

The Regional Relief and Recovery Fund, through Canada’s Regional Development Agencies, is also providing support for businesses in the manufacturing, technology, and tourism sectors.

I’m going to be frank.

It’s no secret that many businesses have been falling through the cracks of these new programs. I’ve spoken to many business owners who found themselves unable to access various government loans and benefits because they don’t use business accounts for banking, because their revenues or payrolls fell just under the eligibility thresholds, or other technicalities. Many businesses are also hesitant to take on loans, or require more support just to cover their immediate start-up costs.

I’m glad the government has finally responded to our calls to provide more flexibility for small businesses, although there is still more to be done. I am continuing to advocate for targeted support, including non-payable grants and immediate funding for start-up costs, for seasonal and tourism businesses.

I’ve also spoken to businesses in the riding who are struggling to find summer workers. That’s why, when the government introduced a benefit for students unable to find work, the Conservatives successfully pushed for an amendment that would connect applicants to the Job Board. We’re also proposing a new program that would match unemployed students with vacancies in sectors currently facing labour shortages.

Earlier this month, I participated in the Standing Committee on Human Resources, Skills and Social Development and the Status of Persons with Disabilities (HUMA), where I questioned representatives from the Waterloo Undergraduate Student Association (WUSA) about whether Canada’s COVID-19 supports strike the right balance between providing financial assistance and helping young Canadians find work.

WUSA Outgoing Vice-President (Education) Matthew Gerrits was enthusiastic about our suggestion for programs to connect unemployed students with jobs, saying, “I think that the government stepping in, in some form, to either provide work or help connect students with work is going to be a policy that is going to be beneficial.”

Especially in these unprecedented economic times, we need to support those who are unable to support themselves through no fault of their own. That’s why Conservatives supported the Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB) and the Canada Emergency Student Benefit (CESB). I was also glad to see the government finally step up and provide more support for seniors.

But if Canada is going to recover from this crisis, we need to make sure our businesses and industries survive.

For the past few months, I’ve been hearing from businesses and workers in the Kenora riding that more needs to be done. Throughout this crisis, I’ve been urging the government to do more to keep our local economy afloat: to help connect employers with workers; to make it easier to qualify for loans and other forms of support; and to introduce targeted support for tourism operators, remote air carriers, and other rural industries who’ve been particularly hard hit.

I’d like to thank the many businesses who have been reaching out to my office to express their concerns. The information you provide helps me and my staff advocate for you.

As always, I encourage constituents needing assistance to contact my office by phone at 807-468-2170 or by email at eric.melillo@parl.gc.ca.

Sincerely,

Eric Melillo

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Kenora MP Eric Melillo Weekly Column

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The Federal Conservatives are urging Health Canada to approve the use of Trikafta, a new breakthrough therapy for cystic fibrosis patients.

Kenora MP Eric Melillo calls it a potentially life saving drug.

“At the very least it’s a life changing drug for many people that are facing the challenges that come with cystic fibrosis and we believe that the government has to take action on this and we hope to see the approval as quick as possible.”

Eric Melillo has joined 58 other Conservative MP’s to write to the Minister of Health.

Melillo says many other jurisdictions, including the FDA, have approved the drug.

The issue is one of many top of mind for the Kenora MP.

He has released his weekly column.

Standing up for Northern Ontario

Dear Constituents,

I hope you are all keeping well in these difficult times. I would like to once again thank the first responders and essential workers who are doing their part to keep Canadians safe and provide access to crucial goods and services.

I am continually grateful for the opportunity to represent you and to advocate for your needs in Parliament.

Demanding Action on Rural Internet

Since I was first elected, I’ve been calling on the government to take action to bring reliable, high-speed internet to rural areas.

Last week the Conservative Rural Internet Caucus released a policy document outlining how the government can bring connectivity to all areas of Canada. The policy document includes 14 recommendations, including government investment, changes to spectrum auctions, incentives for rural infrastructure, and rules to prevent big telcos from taking advantage of consumers.

Lack of internet access is an equality issue, as insufficient connectivity prevents rural Canadians from fully participating in society and the economy. This pandemic is underscoring just how urgent this issue is. Canadians are rightly being urged to practice social distancing – but that’s easier said than done when you are unable to work, take classes, or access services remotely.

Last year, I sponsored a petition calling on the government to take immediate action to improve rural broadband connectivity in all regions of Canada, which was signed by 920 Canadians.

The Conservative Rural Internet Caucus’s policy document provides an important road map for that, and I urge the government implement our recommendations as quickly as possible.

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Hope for Cystic Fibrosis Patients

Last week, along with 59 other Conservative MPs, I signed an open letter to Health Minister Patty Hajdu, urging Health Canada to approve cystic fibrosis drug Trikafta.

Cystic fibrosis is a rare genetic disease that effects the lungs and other organs; effective treatments exist, but many are not currently available in Canada. Trikafta has been found to effectively treat 90% of cases, and the manufacturer has offered to supply it to Canadian patients for free while they negotiate a Price Listing Agreement with the Pan Canadian Pharmaceutical Alliance.

I am urging the Health Minister to approve this life-saving drug.

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Standing up for law-abiding gun owners

Like many Canadians, I was alarmed by the Liberal government’s recent move to ban certain firearms through an order-in-council, bypassing Parliamentary debate.

Many of my constituents use firearms responsibly to hunt and provide for their families. Earlier this year, I visited some of the most remote communities in Ontario and spoke with many residents who were concerned about their ability to maintain their traditional way of life if the government moved to restrict gun ownership.

Conservatives are dedicated to preventing violent crime, but we don’t believe that confiscating firearms from law-abiding Canadians will do anything to prevent gun violence. Criminals, by definition, do not obey gun laws, so the government’s new ban will only impact responsible, law-abiding hunters and sport shooters.

We believe it would be better to invest in support for police anti-gang and gun units, a CBSA Firearms Smuggling Task Force, youth prevention programs, and increased access to mental health and addictions treatment. We also support tougher sentences for violent offenders. In fact, I seconded Bill C-238 which would impose a mandatory minimum sentence on those found to be knowingly in possession of an unlawfully imported firearm.

The CBC has reported that 70-90% of all gun-related crimes in Canada are committed with illegally smuggled firearms from the US. Yet the government has no plan to crack down on cross-border smuggling.

That’s one of the reasons we wanted these new policies to be debated in the House of Commons – Conservatives want to have an evidence-based discussion on how to best prevent violence and combat crime. But instead of working with Parliament to find solutions, the government has decided to push through legislation without any debate or democratic accountability.

The government’s arbitrary new rules are not based in evidence, and rely instead on misleading and emotional terms like “military-style,” “assault-style,” and “military-grade,” which are not defined in law. This underscores how unscientific these rules are: The National Post recently reported that the restrictions don’t include a number of semi-automatic firearms used in military operations, but seem to ban a large number of hunting rifles.

I support measures to crack down on crime and keep Canadians safe – but arbitrary bans that don’t target criminals or smugglers are not the solution to gun violence.

I have been standing up for law-abiding gun owners since I was first elected, and rest assured, I will continue to do so. But everyday Canadians need to speak up as well. If you are also concerned about the Liberal government’s overreach on this issue, I urge you to write to the Prime Minister (justin.trudeau@parl.gc.ca) and Public Safety Minister Bill Blair (Bill.Blair@parl.gc.ca) to express your concerns.

I hope you are all staying healthy and safe. As always, please do not hesitate to contact my office by phone at 807-468-2170 or by email at eric.melillo@parl.gc.ca if you require any assistance.

Sincerely,

Eric Melillo

Member of Parliament – Kenora riding

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