Kenora, ON – MP Eric Melillo was happy to host Leader of the Opposition Erin O’Toole for a virtual tour of Northern Ontario on Friday.
The Conservative Leader started the day with local media interviews before a series of virtual roundtables on industry, tourism, Indigenous issues, and economic recovery.
The Hon. Erin O’Toole was joined by Kenora riding MP Eric Melillo (Conservative Shadow Minister for Northern Affairs and FedNor) and Calgary Centre MP Greg McLean (Conservative Shadow Minister for Natural Resources and CanNor) for a resource sector and industry panel with Weyerhaeuser’s Erik Holmstrom, Evolution Mine’s James Russell, Domtar’s Bonny Skene, & United Steelworkers Local 2251 President Mike Da Prat.
After addressing Ontario Chambers of Commerce, O’Toole rejoined Melillo for a roundtable on small business and tourism, which featured Temple Bay Lodge operator Jeff Moreau, Sioux Lookout Municipal Airport manager Ben Hancharuk, Lake of the Woods Brewing Company president Taras Menzie, and Sleeping Giant Brewing Co. general manager Kevin Brewer.
Joined by Niagara Falls MP Tony Baldinelli, the Leader’s Special Advisor on Tourism Recovery, they had an in-depth discussion of the impacts of COVID-19 on the region’s tourism and hospitality sector.
O’Toole and Melillo closed the day by meeting with Nishnawbe Aski Nation Grand Chief Alvin Fiddler. The meeting, which also included Kamloops-Thompson-Cariboo MP Cathy McLeod (Conservative Shadow Minister for Crown-Indigenous Relations) featured a productive discussion on Reconciliation, economic development, and other mutual interests.
“I was very excited to welcome our Leader to Northern Ontario,” said MP Melillo. “We had a number of great meetings with business and community leaders, discussing what needs to be done to create opportunities in the region and secure Canada’s future.”
