Report From Parliament Hill:

Standing up for Canadians 

Eric Melillo - MP, Kenora Riding

Dear Constituents, 

I hope everyone has had a safe and relaxing long weekend.  

I realize businesses and families are still struggling to stay afloat amid this crisis, and that the government isn’t doing enough. 

I am continuing to use every avenue at my disposal to advocate for more support for small businesses, remote air carriers, and our tourism industry. I’m also fighting for the unique needs of rural, remote, and First Nations communities, and pushing hard for essential improvements to infrastructure - including much-needed action to bring internet to rural and northern Ontario. 

Relatedly, I am glad that Bill C-20: An Act respecting further COVID-19 measures passed through Parliament last week. 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. 

WE Scandal gets worse and worse 

As everyday Canadians were struggling to make ends meet, Justin Trudeau’s government gave a multi-million dollar contract to an organization that paid nearly half a million dollars to his immediate family.

Under a sole-sourced contract awarded by the Liberal government, the controversial WE Charity was to receive $43.5-million to administer the $500-million Canada Student Service Grant.

We now know that WE paid exorbitant speaking fees to the Prime Minister’s family. Despite this clear conflict of interest, Prime Minister Trudeau did not recuse himself from conversations about awarding WE this multi-million dollar contract. Neither did Liberal Finance Minister Bill Morneau, whose daughter is employed by WE. 

Minister Morneau also accepted $41,000 in illegal travel expenses from WE for two luxury vacations in 2017.

Make no mistake, this is corruption.

The WE scandal marks the third time that Prime Minister Trudeau has been under investigation by Canada’s Ethics Commissioner. He’s been found guilty of violating ethics laws twice before. 

Liberal MPs will have to decide if they will continue to stand by their leader, or if they will join us in demanding ethics and accountability from their government. 

Canadians deserve better.

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