With a constituency stretching from Lake Ontario to Algonquin Park, it’s near impossible for MP Shelby Kramp-Neuman to get to everyone in her Hastings-Lennox and Addington-Tyendinaga riding.
The Conservative MP is offering mobile offices to make it easier for residents who need assistance.
Neuman has a main office in Napanee and a second location in Madoc.
She explained the sheer size of the riding necessitated the move.
“I basically serve people from Lake Ontario to Algonquin Park. Logistically speaking, it’s just not physically possible to have hard offices in all the areas. This was an idea we started early on in my tenure back in 2021.”
Bancroft-area residents can visit a mobile office at the Bancroft municipal office on the first Wednesday of each month.
The service is also available at the Addington Highlands municipal office in Flinton on the second Wednesday of every month, and at the MBQ administration office in Tyendinaga on every third Wednesday.
Appointments should be booked but walk-in times are available.
Kramp-Neuman said her main offices are always busy, adding mobile offices allow her staff to help more people.
“In some cases, people would need to drive more than an hour to get to our hard offices. There are so many issues people have, whether it’s questions with passports, veterans’ affairs, Canada Pension Plan or Old Age Security. We even get inquiries about firearms licensing. This list is endless and the number of people we have been able to help is great.”
She added people are often surprised at the many ways the MP and her staff can lend a helping hand, but more people are signing up.
“There are still people who are surprised, but the word is getting out, and the traditional word of mouth is important for us.”
Kramp-Neuman recorded a video last year explaining how she and her staff can help constituents. It can be found on YouTube at https://youtu.be/FMQA9fdM-U8.
