Thanks To Honourable Carla Qualtrough PC – MP

Politics is one area that I for one would never want to get involved in in part due to the fact that promises are seldom kept regardless of the party you are with.

Over the past few years I have had a good or better yet exceptional working relationship when it comes to various requests I have made with Carla Qualtrough who is currently Canada’s Minister of Sport and Physical Activity.

Politics aside and as everyone knows no one agrees on most things which have its pros and cons in the world simply knowing that we have other pressing issues.

As you can imagine I have probably been one of the many that has reached out several times asking her to attend various sporting events or at least requesting her presence, which for the most part she has been very open – naturally depending on her busy schedule.

I have had the luxury to attend various sporting events in the area that she also attended from the Robbie Burns Dinner to a Sledge Hockey where Canada hosted the US at the Richmond Oval to name only two.

She also attended a Canada Day event at the River  House where we did a “live” Canada Day Celebration that saw Carla and other dignitaries grace our broadcast.

A few years back on one of the many Canada Day Celebrations we were “live streaming” I had arranged a call with Bal Gosal who was the Minister of Sport under Prime Minister Stephen Harper and ironically he actually “took our call” and apologized for being busy at the time.

We arranged a time to call back at a time he had given to us, he mentioned that he was busy and could not take our call as when he answered the call, he was “On The Mound” at the Jays game set to throw out the first pitch,

Interesting that when I asked how it went, he mentioned “He didn’t think that he would crack the starting line-up and probably get sent to the minors” which many at the River House got a laugh at.

So as you can see, reaching out to politicians isn’t out of reach and given the fact that if they aren’t overly busy they are open to taking the time to talk with and as you can imagine they must get some interesting, but strange questions.

Sports is the one area in which all are connected and given all the unrest in today’s world; sports puts all the unrest aside even if just for a short while.

Last week (October 17th) Carla sent out a press release indicating that she will not be running in the next election which is yet to be determined.

The press release reads as follows:

Statement from the Honourable Carla Qualtrough PC – MP

It was with mixed emotions – “big feelings” as my son would say that I recently advised the Prime Minister that I would not be running in the next election.

It has been an incredible honour to have served the people of Delta and Canada as MP and Cabinet Minister for the past nine years.

Delta is a wonderful community. Deltans are caring and resilient.

Thank you for putting your trust in me and my team .You have invited us into your lives and shared triumphs and challenges. We have done great things. Together.

I am also grateful to the Prime Minister for putting his trust in me from day one.  It was a great privilege to have led the work on the disability fine, including the Accessible Canada Act and the Canada Disability Benefit.

I am also honoured to have helped Canada through the Pandemic in my time as Employment Minister. 

And as Sport Minister, I am proud to have led work on concussion protocols, increased support for athletes and started the Future of Sport in Canada Commission to address the safe sport crisis.

I am also thankful to my family  for taking this journey with me. For nine years, we have navigated shifting time zones, constant good-buys and I have asked a lot of you.

Your Face Time smilies and words of encouragement kept me  grounded and reminded me daily of what really matters.

It is time to move on, and I am excited to see what comes next.