Since my election, I have travelled to Ottawa and can humbly say that the House of Commons casts a long shadow of history and responsibility each and every time I enter the grounds.
I walk through its doors carrying with me the interests, worries and concerns that are top of mind to the families and communities of our riding - Cape Breton-Canso.
I write today to share some of my thoughts on the year ahead and beyond.
One of my wishes is to connect the communities and people of Cape Breton-Canso with federal agencies to ensure our tax dollars get directed home, where they belong. The needs of this riding are complex. Cape Breton-Canso is large, diverse and each of our communities are unique with individual needs. In the year ahead, I plan to create and develop relationships with cabinet ministers, and their staff members, at every opportunity to address many of the needs of our communities.
One of my top priorities will be the federal government’s new involvement in health care. I am committed to being front and centre in the design and delivery of our promise to ensure every community has access to primary health-care professionals. In our platform we promised an additional $6 billion for better health-care delivery and programs that include better doctor recruitment, and the recognition of credentials earned by medical students and professionals outside of the country.
I also wish to see a deeper national unity from coast to coast to coast. Like every family, we are a complex web of interests, backgrounds, experiences and ambitions. When people ask me what it means to be Canadian, I’m reminded of the late Pierre Trudeau who said, “Canada is not a country for the cold of heart or the cold of feet.”
To me, “being Canadian” is about being empathetic, kind and standing together in the toughest of times.
My final wish is that we continue to work together to strengthen our communities, including continued support to strengthen the three First Nations communities in this riding: We'koqma'q, Potlotek and Paqtnkek. We have much to be proud of in Cape Breton-Canso and I believe that great things lie ahead if our community leaders can work hard together to achieve these goals.
I look forward to hearing from as many of you as I can in the year ahead. My office is ready to help, and is open to your advice, your criticism and your ideas. Let us focus on our strengths, let us come together as communities and, by doing so, let us overcome any challenge. And when we are doing it, let us stand together every step of the way.
Mike Kelloway
MP, Cape Breton-Canso
