MP Soroka reviews issues;
will not be running in 2025

By Glen Mazza
Editor

In an interview on Jan. 28, Yellowhead MP Gerald Soroka, who will not be running in the next election, spoke about the situation in Ottawa and some of the issues in the constituency.

He does not believe there will be a quick election once MPs return to the House of Commons on Mar. 24 after the Liberals prorogued parliament. Soroka believes the Liberals and the NDP realize a Conservative majority government will form in the next election.

“They (the voters) just get rid of every old government after about ten years. So, you know, there’s just so much stacked against them. I don’t see why they want to go into an election too quickly,” explained Soroka. He doesn’t foresee a non-confidence vote in the near future and predicts the NDP will flip-flop on their promise not to support the minority Liberal government.

He said his private member’s bill called Noah’s Law will not before the House anytime soon unless a senator moves it through the Senate first.

Noah’s Law was drafted following the murders of 24-year-old Mchale Busch and her 16-month-old son, Noah McConnell in Hinton. The murderer was a convicted sex offender and no one warned the victims about this dangerous individual who was deemed likely to reoffend.

Soroka introduced Noah’s Law, or Bill C-336, Strengthening Reporting Requirements for Sex Offenders Act, to parliament in June of 2023. There are many bills ahead of it before it can make it before the House of Commons. The senate could move quicker, so Soroka wants a senator to bring it forward.

Soroka spoke about some of the issues in the Rocky region.

There is funding for a new bridge over the Baptiste River on the Sunchild Road (Buster Creek Road). However, paving the road would greatly improve the situation for residents who say they have experienced damage and dangerous situations due to the poor conditions that can occur on the gravelled portions.

“I tried in the past and it just doesn’t seem to be as high priority for the federal government in a strong Conservative riding as it should be, unfortunately,” explained Soroka. With the Conservatives in opposition, the government in subsequently not putting priority on helping to immediately fund this road that is supposed to see partial funding from the province and Clearwater County based on previous discussions. The costly project needs the federal government to provide its share of funding, too.

“I know I’ve brought up how this isn’t about politics, it’s about helping community and especially First Nations communities,” said Soroka who has pushed for federal involvement.

Soroka also noted that ongoing funding and investment in federal properties like the Rocky Mountain House National Historic Site is important.

“I think any time we’re having recreational opportunities, whether it’s for tourism or even local residents, that’s a good investment.”

A large looming issue is the potential for the United States to impose tariffs on its Canadian imports on Feb. 1.
“Pierre Poilievre has said we also need retaliatory tariffs and to strengthen our border and a plan to rescue Canada’s weak economy,” explained Soroka.

NEW NOMINEE

For the next election, the Yellowhead constituency boundaries will change to include Banff townsite, Canmore, Carstairs, Cremona and surrounding areas along with current regions including this part of west central Alberta, Jasper, Sundre, Edson, Drayton Valley, Hinton and their surrounding regions.

The redistribution meant the Yellowhead Conservative constituency association had to hold a nomination vote last summer to select a candidate for the next election. The Yellowhead candidate will be William Stevenson from the Carstairs area since he edged out Soroka on the ballot.

Soroka spoke about the constituents he’s served in the Rocky Mountain House and Clearwater County area during his time as MP for Yellowhead.

“I’d like to thank them for supporting me in the past and I was trying to do as best as I could for them and help them in every way,” concluded Soroka.