After announcing that he was seeking the nomination last month, David Bruno is now officially the candidate for the Liberal Party of Canada here in the Kenora riding.
Bruno, who lives in Kenora, has been acclaimed as the official candidate for the next federal election.
The Lakehead University grad, who also studied at the University of Madrid, has worked in the cyber security industry for 20 years.
According to a release from Bruno his top priorities including the twinning of Highway 17, strengthening Indigenous self-governance, the redevelopment of the forestry industry (renewable resources replacing single-use plastics) and increased northern funding based on equity not equality.
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.
Members of Parliament are enjoying a 2.1% pay raise during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The increase isn’t sitting well with Kenora MP Eric Melillo.
“Absolutely a terrible time for politicians to be accepting a pay raise. I would like, when we get back to Parliament, some sort of normalcy that we could pass a resolution halting it, freezing it, perhaps clawing it back a bit because at this point I just don’t think it’s something we should be doing.”
The Conservative member says he will be donating his pay raise to a number of different charities throughout the riding in the months ahead.
The first organization to benefit was the Kenora Fellowship Centre with the purchase of essential goods.
1/2. On April 1st, all MPs received a legislated pay raise. I will be donating mine throughout the year to support local organizations.
Today I stopped by the fellowship centre in Kenora to drop off some food, clothing, and essentiel items to those in need. pic.twitter.com/etIleSMGii
A new session of Parliament is underway and Kenora MP Eric Melillo has come out swinging.
In his maiden speech in the House of Commons Monday afternoon, the Conservative member took aim at the Liberals plan for the region.
“There’s very little support for the natural resource sector in the Speech from the Throne. There’s no hope provided to miners in Red Lake and across my region and there’s absolutely no mention of softwood lumber or the forest industry. In fact, madam speaker, there’s actually a plan that will restrict forest access even further.”
Melillo says sustainable forest management and resource management plays a pivotal role in growing our economy, protecting our environment and providing a more prosperous future for the next generation.
He also took aim at high taxes and a reckless spending plan by the minority government.
“We in the Kenora riding feel those effects, with many businesses that are struggling to get off the ground or closing up shop. And dwindling industry which is resulting in jobs and opportunities leaving the riding.”
Melillo did offer some praise for the Liberals saying their commitment to reconciliation is important for our riding, noting he looks forward to working with the Minister of Indigenous Services to deliver meaningful support for First Nations communities.
“First Nations in northern communities in my riding are under-funded, they are under-resourced. The people in these communities need access to health and social services. They need infrastructure investments to fix water systems in mould infested homes and they need access to medical, mental health and addictions treatment.”
Melillo begins a fresh session in Ottawa with several new roles.
He has been named Deputy Shadow Minister, sitting on the Natural Resources Committee.
Melillo will also serve as Depute Conservative Shadow Minister for Diversity and Inclusion and Youth as well as for the Economic Development Initiative for Northern Ontario.
Kenora MP Eric Melillo has sent a letter to Finance Minister Bill Morneau, inviting him to visit the riding as part of pre-budget consultations.
In the letter, Melillo emphasized the opportunities and challenges facing our natural resource industries, adding that leveraging the potential of the Ring of Fire and developing an action plan for the forestry sector should be a priority in the fiscal document.
The Conservative member says Morneau would benefit from the opportunity to speak directly with local workers, job creators, and community leaders.
Melillo also would like the finance minister to meet with first nation leaders to talk about some of the challenges they face, including boil water advisories, inadequate social services and crumbling infrastructure.
He notes many people across the riding say they have been forgotten by this government.
Eric Melillo says election night was about what he and his team were expecting.
The MP-elect for the Kenora riding says that he knew going in that it was probably going to come down to the wire, much like it did in 2015.
“We knew it was going to be a close three-way race,” says Melillo, “…in that respect when the numbers started coming in we didn’t get too emotional one way or the other because we knew it was going to be tight throughout.
When it comes to making sure Kenora is on Ottawa’s radar, he says that the key to that could lie with having a strong voice and working together across party lines.
“We have a good team of representatives in our region both federally and two provincial members across the Kenora riding…I’m looking forward to working with them. I’ve had great conversations with both of them and I think that that’s how we’re going to be able to move forward and deliver the changes we need to see.”
Melillo says that he’s trying to meet with as many people and have as many conversations as he can, including with Chief Rudy Turtle of Grassy Narrows First Nation, before he’s sworn in as the Member of Parliament so that he can hit the ground running once it becomes official.
“I was very pleased to have a conversation with Chief Turtle Tuesday morning because he’s got a lot of important insight and he’s a fighter and a champion for people across our region and particularly in his community of Grassy Narrows.”
Productive meeting with Grassy Narrows Chief Rudy Turtle this morning.
Working together, I’m confident we will deliver meaningful results for our region. pic.twitter.com/eJy5C21sFU
Melillo adds that he’s also spoken to now former MP Bob Nault, as well as municipal officials from across the region.
In Vermilion Bay to meet with Machin Mayor Gord Griffiths. Wonderful to hear your concerns and discuss opportunities for growth. pic.twitter.com/GJIxSQLobs
Bob Nault says he has no regrets from the 2019 Federal election campaign.
The incumbent Liberal fell short in his bid to get re-elected and now says he will take a break, relax and think about what lies ahead.
Nault says this is a minority government and he might come back and take another run at it.
Nault was disappointed with the result, but says the people spoke out.
He notes “There was a lot of unhappy people. No matter where we went we got the feeling that people just don’t feel positive about their lives and/or what’s going on in their region. Hopefully that will change.”
“I think the economy is doing well. I think Canada generally is doing quite well. It’s a volatile world that we live in right now. So maybe people are facing that pressure.”
Nault adds it’s been an honour to serve the people of the Kenora Riding.
One of the youngest candidates in Canada will be representing the Kenora Riding.
Eric Melillo of the Conservatives won a three-person race, picking up just over 9,300 votes, or 34.1%.
Melillo says all the hard work by him and his campaign team really paid off.
“I think it helped for sure. I mean we’ve been pounding on doors. I lost track but I think I was nearing 10,000, plus what the campaign team was doing. So we were doing a lot of hard work, we we’re doing it for months.”
Melillo adds “Putting it all out there. We had a great team. We were working hard really since February when the nomination process and we were just spreading our message and ensuring that people know that I’m going to put constituents first. Just ready to get to work here for real.”
Melillo is 22-years-old and recently completed his undergraduate degree in economics.
He took time on Monday to outline some of his priorities.
Melillo says “Infrastructure projects we need to see get moving. Of course the affordability which we touched on. First Nations communities as well, we have a lot of work to do there and I’m looking forward to working on those and as well as many other issues.”
Conservative Eric Melillo stunned many Monday to win the Federal election in the Kenora riding, unseating incumbent and political veteran Bob Nault.
Nault ran on a campaign of experience, while Melillo is a political newcomer and will be become one of the youngest MP’s on Parliament Hill.
Nault conceded defeat to Melillo around 11:14pm central.
Rudy Turtle of the NDP was also in the mix for most of the evening, jumping out to a very solid showing immediately after the polls closed.
Turtle is currently in third, with one poll still not counting.
The rest of the northwestern Ontario is painted red.
Liberal Patty Hajdu is returning as the MP for Thunder Bay-Superior North, while first time candidate Marcus Powlowski has been declared the winner in Thunder Bay-Rainy River.
That seat was originally held by another Liberal Don Rusnak, who decided not to seek re-election.
Here are the preliminary results which still need Elections Canada verification:
Kenora Riding (Polls Reporting 147 of 148 or 99.32%)
Conservative Eric Melillo 9,313 votes 34.1%
Liberal Bob Nault 8,188 votes 30.0%
NDP Rudy Turtle 7,781 votes 28.5%
Green Kirsi Ralko 1,475 votes 5.4%
People’s Party Michael Di Pasquale 382 votes 1.4%
Independent Kelvin Boucher-Chicago 165 votes 0.6%
Total Votes: 27,304
Voter Turnout: 27,304 of 45,692 registered electors (59.76%). *Does not include electors who registered on election day.
Thunder Bay-Superior North (Polls Reporting 202 of 203 or 99.51%)
Liberal Patty Hajdu 17,982 votes 42.6%
Conservative Frank Pullia 10,861 votes 25.8%
NDP Anna Betty Achneepineskum 8,969 votes 21.3%
Green Bruce Hyer 3,505 votes 8.3%
People’s Party Youssef Khanjari 725 votes 1.7%
Libertarian Alexander Vodden 136 votes 0.3%
Total Votes: 42,178
Voter Turnout: 42,178 of 65,928 registered electors (63.98%). *Does not include electors who registered on election day.
Thunder Bay-Rainy River (Polls Reporting 194 of 195 or 99.49%)
Liberal Marcus Powlowski 14,336 35.4%
Conservative Linda Rydholm 11,984 29.6%
NDP Yuk-Sem Won 11,708 28.9%
Green Amanda Moddejonge 1,783 4.4%
People’s Party Andrew Hartnell 730 1.8%
Total Votes: 40,541
Voter Turnout: 40,541 of 65,689 registered electors (61.72%). *Does not include electors who registered on election day.
The Federal election is two sleeps away and the six candidates in the Kenora riding are making one final push for votes.
Liberal Bob Nault is seeking re-election and he took time this past week to speak with CKDR News about a number of issues.
We asked why people should vote Bob Nault on Monday.
“Experience. Expertise in areas that the other candidates don’t have. This being my 20th year, I’ve been in Ottawa long enough to know how it works and I can make things happen and we’ve been successful in doing that with a government that’s willing to invest.”
Nault also talks about the campaign, the issues, how his party will make change while being fiscally responsible and how he plans to improve the quality of life in northwestern Ontario.
To hear the full interview, visit the Audio link below.
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