MP Rachael Thomas looks back on past year
By Al Beeber - Lethbridge Herald on January 2, 2025.
Herald photo by Justin Seward
Lethbridge MP Rachael Thomas visits with guests during her Christmas Open House last month.LETHBRIDGE HERALDabeeber@lethbridgeherald.com
It was a year of positives, negatives and now 2024 has come and gone.
For Lethbridge Member of Parliament Rachael Thomas the year was memorable for many reasons.
“2024 has been a year mixed with some accomplishments that we can be proud of as Conservatives and it’s also been a year that’s been mixed with the observation of great brokenness and heartache within our country and the challenges that face people,” said Thomas in a recent look back at the year.
“It’s been a year of engaging with the community and making sure that I’m paying attention to the things that matter most, whether that’s my youth advisory board or community builders awards” or town halls, round tables and events such as Canada Day, the Whoop-Up Days parade and others, said Thomas.
During her discussions with residents, several topics of concern have come up repeatedly including the cost of living which the MP says is the No. 1 issue with people struggling to pay for rent, gas and groceries.
“It’s really hard for families and they’re having to make really tough choices,” Thomas said.
The MP is also hearing concerns about crime here.
“We know that in the country crime has doubled since Trudeau took office and Lethbridge certainly has been impacted by that whether it’s small thefts, maybe a car being broken into or a person’s garage being broken into and also homes, homes are being broken into” and violence is part of that crime, Thomas said.
“People are concerned about whether or not they can take their kids to the park, or whether or not they can walk the streets at night or after dark. These are some of the things that I’m hearing.”
Tied to that is addiction and the access to hard drugs, said Thomas, claiming that the death toll from drug-related overdoses in Canada has increased by 184 per cent under the watch of the federal Liberals.
“These are people with families, these are people with a story,” people who could have good future with help, she said.
“So instead of handing out taxpayer-funded drugs which is what Trudeau’s solution would be, instead Conservatives believe in recovery, we believe in bringing our loved ones home drug-free and being able to give them hope and a future. And we believe that’s possible if the money is invested in the right types of treatment programs and recovery methods,” Thomas said.
For Thomas, her youth advisory board is extremely important for younger Canadians to develop a voice in politics. When she was first elected to Parliament in 2015, she promised to provide an opportunity for young Canadians to have their voices heard so the MP created the board where she brings in a new cohort every year.
“I absolutely love being at the table because I believe that their voice matters and they’re coming in with unique insights and a perspective that is different than most adults and I think it’s so important for us as political leaders to take into account that next generation and understand what their values are and what their perspective is, understand where they’re hoping to go in terms of their decision making processes and what they desire for the future of their country,” said Thomas.
And the board is an opportunity for youth to get to know the MP, what she’s working on and learn how government works, she said.
As for the future, Thomas said the Conservatives introduced numerous confidence motions in the fall in attempts to dethrone the Liberals and trigger and election, efforts thwarted by the NDP.
And she believes an election will be called in 2025 – either in the spring or fall.
And Conservatives are continuing to focus on four things including eliminating the carbon tax, Thomas said.
The party plans to build more homes, and more affordable homes. They committed to rein in spending and balance the budget and Conservatives are committed to stopping crime and making sure people who are addicted to a hard drug have a place to recover,” the MP added.
“It’s about empowering people to do great things.”
22-21
As with most discussions at the various levels of government, Thomas’s monologues exclude anything related to the environment/climate change. The continuing mantra of the MAGA inspired “Axe the Tax” is all that matters. No mention of the world her future offspring will be living in or the plight of island nations or the decimation of wild places.
And as per usual, it is blame , blame and more blame with no answers forthcoming.
And finally, nary a mention of the various threats humorous or otherwise, coming from down south. At a time when a unified front supporting Canada should be paramount, we have constant bickering, finger pointing and appearing increasingly divided and exhibiting partisanship at unheard of levels.
For once, she or somebody at provincial or federal levels should exercise bipartisanship – for the sake of the country.
Overall, a sad reflection on this country’s identity.
She is babbling what her voters want to hear. She is just the robot with the megaphone.
excellent takes presented by big brit and kal itea!
as for thomas and ilk, it is quite unlikely the land can ever have a quality, compassionate, responsive govt that cares about regular folk, the environment, sustainability. our elected fools are most concerned about service to self, and to the central body of their party, and of course, service to the wealthiest entities that own them. our elected parasites are far too removed from the realities that face the typical worker, as they earn a living standard that too far exceeds that of the typical worker. of course, what they are good at, best at, is following the party whip, barfing out what they are allowed to upchuck during house debates, and sharing the talking points provided by their party brass.
take a good, deep look at our country: the last 45 years or so provides a great window by which to view the awful effects that arise from a lack of leadership, copious oligopoly crony economics, and a tattered shell of a real democracy.
We need not suffer any illusions that a Poilievre Conservative federal government would be the savior for Canada.