Blog | Kerry Diotte

May 19, 2020 | No Comments

Seniors being left behind

Seniors built this country.

Sadly, seniors have been left behind during this crisis.

They’ve paid their dues and now we must ensure that they have the support they need.

To the Liberal government however they’ve been an afterthought.

One issue that seniors here in Edmonton Griesbach have been facing is a disruption in their mail deliveries.

Mail delivery is an essential service especially for seniors.

Yet, for weeks Canada Post was refusing to deliver and sort mail to a seniors’ living facility here in our community.

In “virtual Parliament” I asked Liberal ministers what was being done about this issue and where else disruptions where occurring.

See the full video below.

I’ll continue working to ensure seniors receive essential services throughout this pandemic.

As always if you’re in need of federal assistance please reach out to me, I’m here to help you.

Please contact my office at (780) 495-3261 or by e-mail at kerry.diotte@parl.gc.ca.

Gun owners planning legal challenge to the Liberals’ “sloppy” gun ban

The federal government’s assault weapons ban, announced last week, is loaded with sloppy language and strange omissions say some gun owners and dealers.

The ban, that was announced in response to the recent Nova Scotia shooting rampage, prohibits the use or sale of hundreds of different semi-automatic rifles and some large calibre guns as well.

Jason Smith, who ranches near Eckville, says until last week’s ban he carried a semi-automatic rifle in his tractor or his truck every day to keep coyotes and other predators from eating his bison calves and deer fawns. He says it was simply the best tool for the job.

“Well it feeds your kids,” explained Smith of his livelihood. “You know there isn’t enough money in farming that you can lose ten per cent of your calf crop to coyotes and predators. Every calf matters.”

Each bison calf is worth about $2,000 dollars and every year he has close calls with losing them to coyotes and cougars. He says the firearm ban is too broad.

“I’m all for stopping gun violence, but my guns are not used in gun violence,” said Smith. “It’s stolen weapons, it’s weapons coming across the border. We need to concentrate on the criminals, not the law-abiding citizens.”

(Read the full column by Bill Macfarlane CTV News Calgary here)

Latest news on COVID-19

You can find up-to-date information from Alberta Public Health or the Public Health Authority of Canada.

Alberta Public Health can also be reached by phone at 811.

Benefits for Canadians

There are programs available to help you and your family.

Remember: the way the government set up CERB you need to reapply every 4 weeks.

In the news

Biden says he’d cancel Keystone XL pipeline permit if elected. Link
Sunday: Alberta reports 39 new COVID-19 cases, one additional death. Link
World to Canada: You’re raising your carbon tax during a global pandemic? Link
Legal groups eye suing government to roll back COVID-19 restrictions. Link
14th resident at Intercare Brentwood Care Centre dies from COVID-19. Link
Gunter: At least Jason Kenney’s taking a stand on China. Link
Edmonton man challenges $1,200 COVID-19 ticket over demonstration at legislature. Link
Murphy: Was it code? The PM’s bizarre announcement on the carbon tax hike. Link
Lilley: Trudeau scoffs at questions about hundreds of millions in fraudulent payments. Link

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I want to hear from you

I’m always eager to hear from you. Do you have beefs? Bouquets? Suggestions?

Drop me a note at my e-mail address.

Please note our local Edmonton constituency office is currently still open to serve you but it’s by appointment only. We simply ask that you call ahead to book an appointment.

Call or e-mail us and we’ll be happy to serve you.

Thanks so much. Stay healthy!

E-mail:
Kerry.Diotte@parl.gc.ca

Phone:
(780) 495-3261

Mail (postage free):
Kerry Diotte, MP
House of Commons
Ottawa, ON K1A 0A6

Filed under: General

May 18, 2020 | No Comments

76th anniversary of Sürgünlik

Today marks the 76th anniversary of Sürgünlik. In 1944 Soviet dictator Joseph Stalin forcibly deported more than 200,000 innocent Crimean Tatar men, women and children from their ancestral homes in Crimea to Central Asia and Siberia. Locked in cattle cars thousands of people perished during the journey.

Yet, the Crimean Tatar people persevered and after the fall of the Soviet Union returned to their homeland in Ukraine.

Today once again, the Crimean Tatar people are under threat following Russia’s illegal annexation of Crimea.

We must never forget the genocide against the Crimean Tatar people and never forget that Crimea is part of a free Ukraine.

Filed under: General

May 15, 2020 | No Comments

This is National Nursing Week

We’ve been marking National Nursing Week for 35 years in Canada.
But this year feels remarkably different than others.
Throughout this crisis Canadian nurses have continued to give us excellent care and keep us safe.
To all the nurses across Canada thank you.

This is National Nursing Week

We've been marking National Nursing Week for 35 years in Canada. But this year feels remarkably different than others. Throughout this crisis Canadian nurses have continued to give us excellent care and keep us safe. To all the nurses across Canada thank you.

Posted by Kerry Diotte on Friday, May 15, 2020

Filed under: General

May 14, 2020 | No Comments

I asked the government what’s being done to ensure Canadians especially seniors continue to receive their mail

Questioning the government about mail deliveries to seniors' living complexes in my riding of Edmonton Griesbach

I asked the government what's being done to ensure Canadians especially seniors continue to receive their mail.

Posted by Kerry Diotte on Thursday, May 14, 2020

Filed under: General

May 11, 2020 | No Comments

CERB needs improvements

I’ve been proud to support programs that have helped Canadians during this crisis.

Through no fault of their own millions of Canadians have found themselves out of work and forced to stay home.

The government must be there for Canadians who are struggling.

However, the government’s response to this crisis has often needed major improvements and we Official Opposition MPs have insisted on changes that improved government legislation.

Many folks I’ve talked to have spoken of serious problems with the programs that’ve been created to help them.

The Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB) has several serious failings.

Right now, if someone makes $1,001 a month they’re no longer eligible for the $2000 monthly benefit.

So, a person who earns $1,001 receives $1,999 less a month than someone who earns $1,000 and is also eligible for the $2,000 benefit.

When the economy begins to re-open many Canadians could be worse off because they choose to work.

That’s not right. No Canadian should be punished for going to work.

I’m calling for the program to be more flexible and sensible by allowing Canadians to increase their income earned without losing the entire benefit.

This way, Canadians wouldn’t be penalized for working. Yet, those who are unable to work still get the support they need.

If you’ve had issues with any of the government’s support programs please let me know.

By sharing your experiences, I can raise these concerns in Parliament and push to see Liberals change these programs for the better so you and others could get the benefits you deserve, and not be left to fall through the cracks.

Please contact my office at (780) 495-3261 or by e-mail at kerry.diotte@parl.gc.ca.

Columnist derides the “useless” Liberal gun ban

Last weekend I said there was one word — useless — to describe the ban on what the federal Liberals like to call “assault rifles.”

Let me add another: chaotic.

Banning legal gun owners from possessing certain models of firearms would not have prevented any of the mass killings in recent Canadian history — Ecole Polytechnique, the Quebec City mosque or last month in Nova Scotia.

That makes the ban useless.

Nor will the ban announced by the Trudeau government prevent bank heists or drug gang turf wars, because the ban only impacts legit owners and legit owners are not the source of crime.

But the ban is worse than useless. It’s almost impossible to comprehend.

(Read the full column here)

Latest news on COVID-19

You can find up-to-date information from Alberta Public Health or the Public Health Authority of Canada.

Alberta Public Health can also be reached by phone at 811.

Benefits for Canadians

There are programs available to help you and your family.

Remember: the way the government set up CERB you need to reapply every 4 weeks.

In the news

Alberta reports 96 new cases of COVID-19 Sunday; 70% of total cases now recovered. Link
Deficit reduction will have to wait for the economic recovery, federal officials say. Link
Rex Murphy: Only the Greens and separatists could find ‘opportunity’ in a pandemic. Link
O’Toole vows to put ‘caveats’ on One China policy, urges ‘reckoning’ over coronavirus. Link
RCMP Officer: Banned guns are “not assault rifles or military weapons.” Link
If ‘oil is dead’ so is our economy. Link
GOLDSTEIN: Our leaders fretted about racism more than COVID-19. Link
MALCOLM: Trudeau’s briefings highlight a problem with journalism in Canada. Link
Canada needs its oil and natural gas industry more than ever. Link