Cambridge MP takes on new roles with federal government

Cambridge's Member of Parliament spent the past two years as the parliamentary secretary to the minister of national defence, but is now ready to take on his new roles within the federal government. 

MP Bryan May says he has enjoyed his time travelling abroad and being immersed with the Department of National Defence. 

For his next assignment, he has been handed two new positions as parliamentary secretary to the minister of small business and to the minister responsible for the federal economic development agency (FedDev) for Southern Ontario. 

"This will be a very exciting new challenge," May says. "Not just that I have two different two different ministers to work with, but really good opportunities to help businesses and industry in around Cambridge." 

Having only found out about his new portfolios 24 hours before the announcement on Sept. 16, May is still waiting to see exactly what his new jobs will be like and how he can help the people in the community. 

May says the small business file will centre around recovery and support for companies getting to back to normal from the pandemic and will help them navigate through the turbulent time of inflation and rising costs of living. 

As for the FedDev file, May will be looking to help grow awareness around the grants and possibilities that the government can offer communities and businesses. 

"Out east they have a COA and they know what that is and they recognize what that is," he adds.

"When you see the the announcements around FedDev Ontario, a lot of people think that that's coming from the provincial side. So we haven't really, in my humble opinion, done a fantastic job really explaining where those funds are coming from."

He thinks this could be a time for rebranding and letting the rest of Ontario know what the federal government is doing and how they are helping business and industry thrive. 

According to the federal government's website, FedDev Ontario delivers programming to help grow businesses, cultivate partnerships and build stronger communities through grants and supports. 

"I'm really looking to get out and connect with stakeholders, not just in my community, but all across the country. In order to to learn how we can we can best serve best serve Canadians in both of these in both of these files," May says.