Summary
Eric Melillo MP (born March 27, 1998) is a Canadian politician who was elected to represent the riding of Kenora in the House of Commons of Canada in the 2019 Canadian federal election.[2]
Eric Melillo | |
|---|---|
 Melillo in 2019 | |
| Member of Parliament for Kenora | |
| Assumed office October 21, 2019 | |
| Preceded by | Bob Nault |
| Personal details | |
| Born | March 27, 1998 Kenora, Ontario, Canada |
| Political party | Conservative Party of Canada |
| Relatives | Natalie Sourisseau (cousin)[1] |
| Residence | Kenora, Ontario |
| Alma mater | Lakehead University (BA, 2019) |
Melillo is the youngest Conservative MP ever elected in Canada, and the youngest of the 43rd and 44th parliaments.[3]
Background edit
Melillo graduated from Beaver Brae Secondary School where he showed political aspirations as a high-school student.[4] Prior to election, he studied economics at Lakehead University, worked for a non-partisan think tank in Thunder Bay (Northern Policy Institute) conducting policy analysis, served as an Associate for a Business Consulting firm, and worked as the campaign manager for Kenora—Rainy River MPP Greg Rickford.[5]
Career edit
43rd Parliament edit
In December 2019, Melillo was appointed the Conservative Party's Deputy Shadow Minister for Diversity and Inclusion and Youth, and Economic Development Initiative for Northern Ontario.[6]
Prior to the second session of the 43rd Parliament, Melillo was named to Erin O'Toole's Shadow Cabinet as the Shadow Minister for Northern Affairs and Economic Development Initiative for Northern Ontario.[7] Melillo served on the Natural Resources and the Indigenous and Northern Affairs standing committees during the 43rd Parliament.[8]
In his first term, he developed a reputation for his attention to constituency work that led to local popularity.[9] He was re-elected at the 2021 Canadian federal election.[10]
44th Parliament edit
After the 2021 election, Melillo remained in the Conservative Shadow Cabinet and was appointed to the Natural Resources Committee.[11]
On March 15, 2022 Melillo was listed among 313 Canadians banned from entering Russia. The announcement came after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy addressed the House of Commons in midst of the Russian invasion of Ukraine.[12]
In 2023, Melillo face criticism from local pride organizations in his riding over his silence regarding "transphobic" rhetoric from his party.[13][14] His silence raised question about his allyship with LGBTQ communities since previously he attended pride events and told these local pride groups that he listen and help fight for their interests.[15]
Personal life edit
Melillo married Danaka Howden on June 3, 2022. His brothers-in-law Quinton and Brett Howden are professional ice hockey players.[16]
Electoral record edit
| 2021 Canadian federal election: Kenora | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | Expenditures | |||
| Conservative | Eric Melillo | 11,103 | 42.6 | +8.5 | $76,445.84 | |||
| New Democratic | Janine Seymour | 7,802 | 29.9 | +1.4 | $53,646.32 | |||
| Liberal | David Bruno | 5,190 | 19.9 | -10.1 | $42,652.01 | |||
| People's | Craig Martin | 1,625 | 6.2 | +4.8 | $6,563.10 | |||
| Green | Remi Rheault | 364 | 1.4 | -4.0 | $2,974.40 | |||
| Total valid votes | 26,083 | 99.6 | ||||||
| Total rejected ballots | 118 | 0.4 | ||||||
| Turnout | 26,201 | 57.6 | ||||||
| Eligible voters | 45,500 | |||||||
| Conservative hold | Swing | +3.6 | ||||||
| Source: Elections Canada[17] | ||||||||
| 2019 Canadian federal election: Kenora | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | ||||
| Conservative | Eric Melillo | 9,313 | 34.1 | +5.64 | ||||
| Liberal | Bob Nault | 8,188 | 30.0 | -5.50 | ||||
| New Democratic | Rudy Turtle | 7,781 | 28.5 | -5.38 | ||||
| Green | Kirsi Ralko | 1,475 | 5.4 | +3.77 | ||||
| People's | Michael Di Pasquale | 382 | 1.4 | - | ||||
| Independent | Kelvin Boucher-Chicago | 165 | 0.6 | - | ||||
| Total valid votes | 27,304 | 100.00 | ||||||
| Conservative gain from Liberal | Swing | +9.04 | ||||||
References edit
- ^ @Eric_Melillo (November 2, 2019). "Wishing good luck to my cousin..." (Tweet) – via Twitter.
- ^ "Canada election results: Kenora". Global News. October 21, 2019. Retrieved October 21, 2019.
- ^ "Canadian Parliament Primer".
- ^ "KenoraOnline".
- ^ "KenoraOnline".
- ^ "MP Eric Melillo named deputy shadow minister".
- ^ "Kenora Ont. MP named to Conservatives' new Opposition critics". CBC News.
- ^ "Profile- Melillo, Eric".
- ^ "ANALYSIS: Singh's NDP seeks seats with focus on Indigenous campaigns".
- ^ "CTV decision desk declares Eric Melillo re-elected in Kenora". TBNewsWatch.com. Retrieved September 21, 2021.
- ^ "Eric Melillo Named To Shadow Cabinet".
- ^ "Justin Trudeau among 313 Canadians banned from Russia". globalnews.ca. Retrieved March 16, 2022.
- ^ Law, Sarah (September 23, 2023). "LGBTQ pride groups in northwestern Ontario call out Kenora MP's silent treatment". Canadian Broadcasting Corporation.
- ^ "LGBTQ groups want to talk, MP doesn't". NWONewsWatch.com. 2023-09-28. Retrieved 2024-03-08.
- ^ Judson, Douglas (January 14, 2024). "JUDSON: Melillo ignores local LGBTQ2 groups targeted by right-wing hate". Kenora Daily Mirror.
- ^ "House Publications". Retrieved June 26, 2022.
- ^ "Election Night Results". Elections Canada. Retrieved 23 September 2021.
External links edit
- Eric Melillo – Parliament of Canada biography