Earlier this month, I was pleased to host the Hon. Carolyn Bennett, minister of Indigenous and Northern Affairs, in the Fort Frances region.
Minister Bennett visited Couchiching First Nation and met with indigenous leadership from across the riding. We also toured the Nanicost building and stopped by the children’s pow-wow there.
It was a pleasure to show the minister the beauty of our riding and the warmth and generosity of our communities.
August also brought Veterans Affairs minister Kent Hehr to our riding, who stopped in to announce the re-opening of our Veterans Affairs office in Thunder Bay.
It will be located on the 1st floor at 130 Syndicate Ave. S. and, once opened, will employ about eight staff who will serve roughly 1,700 veterans, providing increased services for veterans throughout the entire region.
I would like to thank the group of veterans and citizens who lobbied for—and supported—the re-opening of this office.
The government recognized your efforts and your voices initiated the change you asked to see in our community.
We also were delighted to have Finance minister Bill Morneau meet with local families for an “Ice Cream Social” at the Ogden Community Public School in Thunder Bay.
The minister discussed the government’s commitment to strengthening the middle class and helping those trying to reach it.
Minister Morneau also highlighted the Government of Canada’s Canada Child Benefit (CCB), which is simpler, tax-free, better-targeted, and more generous than the existing child benefits.
It will help parents with the high costs of raising their kids and put more money in the pockets of nine out of 10 Canadian families.
It also will lift 300,000 Canadian children out of poverty, giving them a better chance to reach their full potential.
Finally, I’m pleased to announce that we now are accepting applications for the Thunder Bay-Rainy River Youth Council.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has said that “young voices must be part of our decision-making process,” and that’s why I’m launching a new initiative to bring youth together from across Thunder Bay-Rainy River to engage with the federal political process.
I want to hear from youth in the community, and am inviting anyone aged 15-24 to apply to the Thunder Bay-Rainy River Youth Council.
Online application forms can be found on my website at www.drusnak.liberal.ca
As August comes to a close, I want to thank the people of Thunder Bay-Rainy River for an eventful and memorable summer.
The abundance of festivals and celebrations across the riding allowed me to connect with so many members of our community and gain valuable insight into what issues matter most.
I look forward to continuing to bring real change to our riding when the House of Commons resumes sitting in September.
