Report From Parliament Hill

Eric Melillo, MP, Kenora Riding

Dear Constituents, 

It was a busy week in Ottawa. I gave a speech in the House of Commons on the 2023 budget to share concerns on the Liberals’ tax increases and the inflationary deficit that will only make life more unaffordable for Canadians.
I also spoke about the lack of a plan in the budget to improve community safety in our region. Policing calls for services have been up, as have the costs that go with this, to the point where municipalities are struggling and trying to figure out how they are going to be able to deal with those costs. We have seen assaults, slashed tires, vehicle break-ins and needles being found around our communities, all happening with greater frequency.
Conservatives support policies that get people struggling with addictions into recovery instead of spending a night in a cell, only to be released and continue that cycle over and over again. There must be greater federal support for detox and addictions treatment programs in Northwestern Ontario to get those struggling off the streets. There also must be greater consequences for the drug dealers preying on the vulnerable and for repeat violent offenders. This budget does not get it done, but Conservatives will.

Standing up Against the Liberal Firearm Confiscation Program
The Liberals recently announced they will begin their firearm confiscation from law-abiding Canadians. It will do nothing to improve community safety in Northwestern Ontario or across the country and will only make life more difficult for firearms owners in the region.
Instead of going after the illegal guns used by criminals and street gangs or ending their catch-and-release bail system, Justin Trudeau is focused on taking hunting rifles and shotguns from hunters, sport shooters, and Indigenous peoples. No one believes this will reduce violent crime across Canada. Since 2015, the year the Liberals formed government, violent crime has actually increased by 32%, and gang-related murders have doubled. In the meantime, they have repealed mandatory minimum sentences for gun crimes and made it easier to get bail.
To make matters worse, this policy is diverting precious resources away from the law-enforcement agencies that need it. Conservatives support common-sense policies that keep guns out of the hands of dangerous criminals like securing our border, investing into policing, and fixing the broken bail system. Only a Conservative Government will bring home real policies to keep repeat, violent offenders in jail and keep Canadians safe.

Working for You 
If you’re planning to be in Ottawa and are interested in attending Question Period or taking a tour of Parliament, please let me know and my office can help reserve Question Period and tour tickets. 
As always, if there is anything my office can assist you with, please call me at 807-223-2182 (Dryden) or 807-468-2170 (Kenora) or email me at [email protected].

Sincerely,
Eric Melillo
Member of Parliament
Kenora Riding