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SYDNEY RIVER - With the summer fast approaching and the COVID-19 pandemic still bearing down on Nova Scotia, Cape Breton-Canso MP Mike Kelloway is hoping newly-announced federal measures and continued conversations with local industry stakeholders will ease the burden felt by many of his constituents over the warm-weather months. 

Kelloway was first elected as a Liberal MP last October to the riding, which takes in most of Antigonish and Guysborough Counties on the mainland side of the Canso Causeway, as well as the Town of Port Hawkesbury, the counties of Inverness and Richmond, and several communities within the Cape Breton Regional Municipality.

Speaking to Telile Community Television's Adam Cooke in mid-April, Kelloway expressed enthusiasm with Ottawa's extension of the traditional Canada Summer Jobs Program into the fall and winter months. As well, instead of following past practices of funding wages paid under this program on a 50-50 basis, Kelloway reported that the federal government will now fund the entirety of all wages up to and including the minimum wage. 

The Cape Breton-Canso MP also noted that he is continuing his conversations with local members of the Atlantic fishery sector, particularly with an uncertain lobster season set to open in the Maritimes within a matter of days. 

On the subject of tourism, Kelloway added that he continues to speak regularly with officials connected to the umbrella group overseeing Cape Breton's hospitality, accommodations and event sector, Destination Cape Breton Association. While the federal government is exploring all options to ensure that as many tourism operators as possible can get through the coming summer, the Liberal MP also encouraged his constituents to hold "staycations" in communities around the riding of Cape Breton-Canso.