Battlefords-Lloydminster MP Rosemarie Falk. (File photo/battlefordsNOW staff)

By Angela Brown

HOPE AND THE FUTURE

Hope and the Future: despite challenging year local MP looking forward to 2021

Jan 5, 2021 | 11:04 AM

The COVID-19 pandemic makes 2020 a year many may prefer to forget, but there is hope for the future. We’ve decided to make that the focus of our series of end-of-year stories.

“I would say probably one of the biggest exposures that COVID has had this past year [is] on our seniors and long-term care facilities across Canada,” Battlefords-Lloydminster MP Rosemarie Falk told battlefordsNOW.

Falk, who serves as the Conservative shadow cabinet minister for Seniors, said during the pandemic it continues to be essential to make sure seniors’ voices are heard.

She is cognizant of their mental health needs from the impact of social isolation due to COVID-19 restrictions.

”It has been an unprecedented one for many of us, living in this generation at this time,” Falk said.

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She said the year 2020 changed the way many people have been able to engage with one another on many levels.

Falk is especially concerned about seniors who are struggling.

“It’s important to make sure we are there, not only for each other but also for our seniors,” she said.

Falk commends the community for showing support for seniors during the pandemic. She mentioned the Lloydminster and District Co-op recently held its annual campaign, Spread a Little Love this Christmas, to offer some kindness to seniors during the holidays. People would purchase a gift requested by a senior, and the Lloydminster Co-op would then quarantine the item and deliver it to the senior in time for the holidays.

The past year has been busy for the federal Conservative Party on a political level with the election of Erin O’Toole as the new leader of the official opposition.

Falk is impressed with the new leader’s diligence and said he is interested in hearing concerns from constituents, while also recognizing the different economic drivers in regions across Canada. She said O’Toole is also interested in using his team’s individuals skills sets.

“I believe our leader is doing a great job,” she said. “He is really taking the time to have caucus input which I believe is so important.”

Looking ahead, Falk said she hopes to see the federal government make sure premiers have the information they need for the proper roll-outs of COVID-19 vaccines.

She also wants to ensure the COVID-19 rapid tests are more available so people can obtain tests and results more promptly.

“It would be great to have rapid tests here to be able to utilize by people in the health field, but also the education sector,” she said.

She added having industry be able to test and have the results more quickly would be an improvement.

In the year ahead, Falk said she wants to continue to focus on her constituents’ needs.

“My number one job is to make sure the concerns are voiced of my constituents of Battlefords-Lloydminster in the caucus room but also on the House of Commons floor,” she said. “That is something I will continue to always do to make sure that their concerns are carried to Ottawa.”

Falk said mail-out invitations are sent to constituents whenever she is visiting an area. She was recently in the Battlefords area and Kerrobert prior to the holidays. She also encourages people to contact her office directly if they have an issue to discuss anytime via the phone or email.

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angela.brown@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @battlefordsNOW