About 50 citizens gathered at the National Air Force Museum of Canada, to take part in a town hall meeting on defence policy, on July.20/16. (Photo: David Foot / Quinte News)
The MP for the Bay of Quinte Riding says he’s extremely happy with how a town hall meeting on defence policy went in Trenton on Wednesday night.
Neil Ellis’ input session focused on a number of areas, including how Canada should be focusing its defence efforts at home and how to spread those resources abroad.
Ellis tells Quinte News, many of the citizens who spoke had concerns about how the government is purchasing its military equipment and the size of the force.
Speakers also touched on the need to continue to support military families and veterans once they return home, especially through the Military Family Resource Centre.
The MFRC’s Tamara Kleinshcmidt also gave a presentation, stressing the importance of the health of the military family and the effect it can have on soldiers and their operations.
And when it comes to veterans affairs and programs, Kleinschmidt says the MFRC is making big strides through pilot programs already, but wants to see some government commitments to expanding those programs in the near future.
Ellis says the next step is for MPs in other ridings to hold similar meetings, with the new defence policy hopefully rolling out by the end of the year.
He says anyone who still wants to submit email feedback can do so by visiting this link.
Any extra submissions must be in by the end of July and Ellis says he plans to hold more town hall meetings on topics like the environment, electoral reform and more, later this summer.
