Local MP addresses Lloydminster Rotary

MP Rosemary Falk, representing Battlefords–Lloydminster, delivered a strong and hopeful speech to the Rotary Club of Lloydminster on Jan. 6.

She spent time addressing pressing issues facing the bi-provincial city and Canada. Falk stressed the need for better healthcare collaboration, government accountability, and the protection of Canadian values.

Speaking to a room of roughly 30 Rotarians, Falk pointed to Lloydminster’s unique challenges as a city with roots in both Saskatchewan and Alberta. Although not a federal problem, she highlighted the inability to properly share medical information within our own city.

“We need more efficiencies,” Falk said. “There should be no reason we can’t share medical information, especially in a place like Lloydminster that is bi-provincial.”

Earlier in the day, Prime Minster Justin Trudeau announced his resignation. Given the development, her speech took the tone of an upcoming election speech.

She expressed frustration with the federal government’s overreach into provincial affairs, highlighting her opposition to the carbon tax.

“The federal government needs to respect the provinces,” she said, highlighting the carbon tax. “Saskatchewan doesn’t want it, yet Ottawa is imposing it anyway. It’s unacceptable.”

Falk also reflected on how federal policies have directly impacted her family and others in her community. She responded to a question about why she got involved by Vic Juba.

“When Justin Trudeau was elected, we started seeing policies that negatively affected our jobs, our families, and our values,” she said. “That’s when my husband and I decided to get involved.”

She called on provincial governments and MLAs to step up and tackle these issues head-on.

“When there’s a will, there’s a way to get things done,” Falk urged. “I will advocate where I can, but provinces need to act.”

Falk’s speech also touched on her personal journey into politics, which she said began with a desire to create real change for families. She recalled her time as a social worker and the pivotal moment that sparked her interest in policy.

“I wrote to the Minister of Status of Women about a movie (50 Shades of Grey) being shown in Canada,” Falk said.

She said she couldn’t understand why with all the spousal abuse abound, the government could let a film like that play in Canada.

“At the time, I didn’t understand why policies mattered. Later, I learned why they’re so important,” she advised about her lesson.

She shared a heartbreaking experience from her career in social work.

“Someone found a woman on the side of the road. When I called social services, they asked, ‘What side of the highway was she on?’” Falk said. “That’s absolutely unacceptable. It doesn’t matter where she was—she needed help, and we needed to figure it out.”

She encouraged others to take action and fight for Canada’s future.

“Men and women have literally put their lives on the line because they believed in this country and its values,” said a passionate Falk. “We care deeply for the next generation and for this country.”

In closing, Falk restated her commitment to advocating for the people of Lloydminster and all Canadians.

“We’re the solution, not the problem,” she said. “We need to work together to make our communities stronger, more efficient, and better for everyone.”

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