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https://www.facebook.com/KerryDiotteEdmontonGriesbach/videos/551949468821587/

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 [email protected].

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

Share this valuable e-newsletter with a friend 

You can share it here.   

If you’re not subscribed to this regular e-newsletter, sign up below.

Members of Parliament get the most current, accurate and comprehensive updates regarding the COVID-19 crisis. Want regular highlights of these? Sign up for my e-newsletter. You can unsubscribe at any time. Sign up here.

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:
[email protected]

Phone:
(780) 495-3261

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

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 [email protected].

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

Share this valuable e-newsletter with a friend 

You can share it here.   

If you’re not subscribed to this regular e-newsletter, sign up below.

Members of Parliament get the most current, accurate and comprehensive updates regarding the COVID-19 crisis. Want regular highlights of these? Sign up for my e-newsletter. You can unsubscribe at any time. Sign up here.

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:
[email protected]

Phone:
(780) 495-3261

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

On May 8, 1945 – seventy-five years ago today – the war in Europe ended.

After six long years of war Nazi Germany was defeated.

Millions of people all around the world united in their fight for freedom.

Please click below to sign this official petition. Please like it and share it to spread the word.

“We, the undersigned, citizens of Canada, call upon the Prime Minister to immediately scrap his government’s May 1, 2020, Order in Council decision related to confiscating legally owned firearms and instead pass legislation that will target criminals, stop the smuggling of firearms into Canada, go after those who illegally acquire firearms, and apologize to legal firearms owners in Canada.”

Today marks 75 years since the 1st Canadian Army liberated the Netherlands from Nazi tyranny.
We must never forget the service of the hundreds of thousands of Canadians who fought for freedom during the Second World War.
Lest we forget.

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This crisis has been hard on all of us.

All our lives have been changed.

Folks have lost their jobs and are physically distancing.

Like me, some people are now working from home.

Yet, throughout it all our community hasn’t stopped helping each other.

Community groups continue to offer important services to Edmontonians in need.

If you need assistance there’s help for you.

Crystal Kids Youth Centre continues to do great work helping kids here in our community.

They have a daily food pick-up program for families in need.

Crystal Kids are also hosting daily virtual mentoring, life skills and literacy sessions.

You can contact them at (780) 479-5746 ext. 224 or by e-mail at [email protected].

Drive Happiness is also doing an amazing job delivering food and medication to seniors in need.

They can be reached at (780) 424-5438 or by e-mail at [email protected].

The Ahmadiyya Muslim Youth Association also volunteer to help people get groceries, medication and do other errands.

You can reach them at 1 (855) 435-7811 or by e-mail at [email protected].

As senior centres are closing, our community is working to support the social well being of seniors with the Seniors’ Centre Without Walls.

This is a great resource where seniors can call and interact with others from the comfort of their own home.

You can register at (780) 395-2626.

If you’re in need please contact one of these great community organizations. 

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

E-mail: [email protected]

You must reapply for CERB

The way the government designed the new Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB) you must reapply every four weeks.

If you applied for the benefit when it was first announced, you need to reapply to receive the second payment of $2000.

Learn more about 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

• 96 new cases of COVID-19 confirmed in Alberta on Sunday and 1 more death. Link
• Alberta launches AB TraceTogether app to improve contact tracing, fight COVID-19 spread. Link
• They applied for CERB through EI — now they can’t get follow-up payments. Link
• Lilley: Trudeau lies and subverts democracy to push his anti-gun agenda. Link
• Canadians who don’t qualify for CERB are getting it anyway — and could face consequences. Link
• United Front groups in Canada helped Beijing stockpile coronavirus safety supplies. Link
• David Staples: Dr. Theresa Tam should answer questions about COVID-19 failures or resign. Link 

Share this valuable e-newsletter with a friend 

You can share it here.   

If you’re not subscribed to this regular e-newsletter, sign up below.

Members of Parliament get the most current, accurate and comprehensive updates regarding the COVID-19 crisis. Want regular highlights of these? Sign up for my e-newsletter. You can unsubscribe at any time. Sign up here.

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:
[email protected]

Phone:
(780) 495-3261

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

The long awaited Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy (CEWS) for small businesses is now available. 

Small businesses affected by COVID-19 will receive a 75% subsidy for employee wages for up to 12 weeks.

This program will help Canadian small businesses survive the crisis and prevent further job losses. 

We Conservatives successfully pushed the government for improvements to the program. 

That included increasing the subsidy from the proposed original 10% to the current 75% support. 

We’ve also pushed for making the program more accessible, so Canadians who need support get the help they need. 

Additionally, the government has just announced a plan to offer small businesses rent relief — the Canada Emergency Commercial Rent Assistance (CECRA).

Under this program the government will offer support for 75% of commercial rent for eligible small businesses. 

More details to come.

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

These are trying times for everyone, but together we’ll get through this. 

E-mail: [email protected]

Support for students

The government has proposed a new Canada Emergency Student Benefit (CESB) to provide relief for students affected by COVID-19. 

This program will provide support to students and new graduates who aren’t eligible for the Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB). 

Eligible students will receive $1,250 per month from May to August. 

We Conservatives are also proposing a new program to match students with essential jobs in agriculture.   

Farmers across Canada need workers and students need jobs.

This is a win-win policy that helps students, farmers and maintains the security of our food supply. 

Learn more about 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

• Heroes of the pandemic: Teen celebrates 18th birthday by buying (and delivering) groceries to the blind. Link
• Andrew MacDougall: Andrew Scheer is right to want a functioning House of Commons. The government should be ridden as hard as the opposition. Link
• Second World War veteran, 99, heads home after beating COVID-19. Link
• From Nigerian orphanage to snowy Calgary, adopted boy’s family finds silver lining in pandemic. Link
• Corbella: If Alberta’s energy sector dies every Canadian will suffer — the numbers don’t lie. Link
• Bell: Trudeau gets another shot, for Alberta he blows it again. Link
• Corbella: China’s rebuke of Premier Kenney backfires. Link
• Poilievre: The state reigns supreme as never before in Canada. Link
• Canada: 1 million respirators acquired from China unfit for coronavirus fight. Link

Share this valuable e-newsletter with a friend 

You can share it here.   

If you’re not subscribed to this regular e-newsletter, sign up below.

Members of Parliament get the most current, accurate and comprehensive updates regarding the COVID-19 crisis. Want regular highlights of these? Sign up for my e-newsletter. You can unsubscribe at any time. Sign up here.

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:
[email protected]

Phone:
(780) 495-3261

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

On this day 69 years ago the soldiers of the 2nd Battalion of the Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry (PPCLI) heroically repulsed an attack by Chinese and North Korean communist forces in Korea. 

From 1950 to 1953 Canadian and allied forces fought in the Korean War as part of the  United Nations mission defending South Korea from a communist invasion. 

In the spring of 1951, the PPCLI was ordered to hold Hill 677 at Kapyong as the last line of defense protecting the withdrawal of our allies.

For two days the 700 Canadian troops fervently fought off wave after wave of enemy attacks.

Heavily outnumbered the Canadians held firm and successfully stopped the enemy offensive.  

For their heroism, President Truman awarded the PPCLI the United States Presidential Unit Citation battle streamer and shoulder badge. 

Yet, this came at a high cost, 10 Canadian soldiers were killed and 23 were wounded. 

Lest we forget.

Language Requirements: English. Other languages considered an asset.

Location: Edmonton, Alberta.

Job description:

The office of Kerry Diotte, Member of Parliament for Edmonton Griesbach, is looking for a summer intern to help develop and carry out creative projects and assist in day-to-day constituency work. Working with the Member of Parliament and his staff, this paid internship is a chance to learn about political life and enhance your professional resume.

Qualifications:

• Excellent writing, editing and oral communication skills
• Proficient with computers and basic photography
• Willingness to work flexible hours, including evenings and weekends on projects
• Effective interpersonal skills, good judgment, discretion, initiative, professionalism and team spirit
• Keen interest in learning new technology (such as video editing) or online programs and apps

Apply now by sending your resume, a creative work sample and three work, volunteer or academic references to the attention of Sally Harris at: [email protected].

The successful candidate could start working as soon as May 15, 2020 with the position ending by Sept. 1, 2020.

Creative work could include writing samples, photos, videos etc.

Please feel free to forward this opportunity to interested individuals.

*** All applications will be held in confidence and only selected applicants will be contacted for an interview.***