Kenora MP Eric Melillo is back in Ottawa as the House of Commons resumes for a face-to-face sitting.
Melillo says he believes it’s important to meet in person at least once a week while maintaining physical distancing.
He says he will look for answers on a number of local COVID-19 concerns.
“Whether its seasonal businesses, seasonal workers, students, seniors. A lot of people that are feeling that they have slipped through the cracks with a lot of the support announced so far.”
Melillo says the Conservatives have also been calling for specific supports for the restaurant, hospitality and tourism sectors.
Melillo says his goal is to get some clarification on some of the Federal aid packages and get some broader support for vulnerable people.
He notes he’s talked to a number of local residents who aren’t eligible for some of the new coronavirus benefits or who are still struggling to keep their business afloat.
Melillo says he’s pleased parliamentary democracy will continue to function during the pandemic.
He states it’s important to have accountability in government and adds all emergency sessions held to date have led to better outcomes for Canadians.
“There are some gaps. There are people that still need support and there are changes that need to be made and we recognize that. We have been working collaboratively with the government, not in any political fashion of course in a crisis like this, it’s just about getting work done.”
Melillo says his opposition party has been lobbying for additional measures that would help more Canadians get more support, faster, including:
-Help with immediate cash flow.
-Refunding the past six months’s GST remittances to small businesses.
-Backstopping banks that extend low interest loans to small businesses.
-Allowing business owners to keep all source deductions and apply them to the $75,000 wage subsidy.
-Temporarily allowing owner-operators to become wage-earning employees instead of dividend recipients so that they qualify for the wage subsidy.
-Allowing businesses to demonstrate revenue loss using other metrics such as loss of earnings, subscriptions, or orders.
This week I am returning to Parliament for house proceedings with a reduced number of MPs.
I look forward to the opportunity to hold the government to account and voice the concerns of our region. pic.twitter.com/JkRlaPToKS
— Eric Melillo (@Eric_Melillo) April 27, 2020
