Liberal’s Rooke hopes to convince regional voters to seek local change

By BRENDAN MILLER on April 19, 2025.

bmiller@medicinehatnews.com

Tom Rooke says voters in the Medicine Hat-Cardston-Warner riding need a voice in Ottawa to have their concerns heard if the Liberals once again form government following the upcoming general election.

“In eastern Alberta here, it is very important that we elect a candidate, hopefully me, that represents the party that I know is going to have a majority government,” says Rooke. “Just this once, wouldn’t it be nice, just this once, to vote for a party that probably will form the government and then you have a representation in that government, rather than an opposition to that government?”

Rooke, a well-known Hatter who is an advocate for promoting a number of local charities, says he believes this election Canadians will be fighting for their sovereignty and stands beside Mark Carney’s platform, who he believes is the best candidate to stand up for the country during global tensions.

“That’s one of the reasons why I let my name stand to be a candidate and to be a Liberal candidate,” says Rooke, who says the modern Conservative party leader Pierre Poiliever represents far right-wing voters while the current day Liberal party is positioned moderately left.

“The party has also put forth a platform that will be a very strong platform designed for all Canadians, not necessarily just a select few.”

Before throwing his hat to run in this year’s general election, Rooke, 81, and his wife Linda often spend half their time living in Arizona and the other half living in Medicine Hat.

During their time south of the border Rooke says Americans have become more divided and hopes a more “level-headed” Liberal party will stand against separatism.

“We learned what Trump and ‘Trumpism’ is all about,” Rooke said to supporters during an open house earlier this month. “It’s not pretty. I don’t want to see our country going in that direction. We are Canadians, we’re not separatists.”

If re-elected the Liberal Party of Canada says it will introduce tax cuts aimed at middle-class families by reducing the marginal tax rate on the lowest bracket by one percentage point, saving families with two-sources of income approximately $825 annually.

Additionally the Liberals are seeking to eliminate the GST cost on the purchase of all homes under $1 million for first-time home buyers. Rooke says housing and rental affordability in southeastern Alberta remains a priority issue.

“I think that’s where the federal government is required to come in and make things more affordable for first time buyers particularly.”

Additionally Rooke says he would support the introduction of new legislation that would seek to cap or restrict the amount of rent increases, while noting that rental prices are not normally within Ottawa’s jurisdiction.

“There is legislation that needs to be put forth to tighten up the rental agreements,” says Rooke. “In Medicine Hat, we seem to be getting almost a monopoly of places to rent, they seem to be through one company, which is out of Calgary. I believe that’s just dangerous and there should be competition, but this particular property owner just keeps buying up these properties.”

Outside city limits, Rooke says he also wants to be a voice in the House of Commons for rural voters, farmers and ranchers in the riding.

“I want to convince them that it’s about time they had a representative in government, because all indications are that the Liberal Party is going to form the next government. So why would you not want a representative rather than somebody in a backbench opposition?”

Before retirement Rooke worked as a marketing manager with Monarch Cable in the Hat and with the local branch of the Canadian Cancer Society, as well as serving as a public school board trustee.

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