Report From Parliament Hill:

Coming together in a crisis

Eric Melillo - MP, Kenora Riding

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.