By Al Beeber – Lethbridge Herald on January 2, 2025.
Herald photo by Justin SewardLethbridge 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.”
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