North Okanagan-Shuswap MP Mel Arnold (Submitted photo: Mel Arnold/Facebook)

By Pete McIntyre

year-end interview

MP ready to run again if vote called in 2023

Dec 29, 2022 | 5:00 AM

Should there be a federal election in 2023, the veteran Member of Parliament for North Okanagan-Shuswap said he would seek a fourth term.

Mel Arnold of the Conservatives told Vernon Matters in a year-end interview, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau could call an election at any time, and if that were to happen, Arnold says he would put his name in again.

“At this point, I would certainly be planning on running again. I still feel the support is there and feel engaged. I just look forward to continuing to serve the people of the North Okanagan-Shuswap. The longer I am in the role, I feel the better the job I can do,” Arnold said.

Trudeau’s Liberals have an agreement with the NDP that allows the minority government to get NDP support until 2025, but there were signs of that deal weakening recently over NDP health care concerns.

Meantime, Arnold’s private members bill (C-291) to replace the term “child pornography” with “child sexual abuse and exploitation material” in Canada’s criminal code has passed two of three votes required to progress to the Senate.

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He said it has received support from all members and parties so far.

“We’ve been able to advance it quickly to this stage. We have one more hour of debate scheduled, hopefully very early in the new year, and after that vote, I expect it will go to the Senate.”

Arnold has worked with Kamloops-Thompson-Cariboo MP Frank Caputo, a former Crown prosecutor, on the bill.

“The sooner the bill received royal assent, the better for children that have, or could be victimized by the production of sexual abuse material,” Arnold remarked.

The MP said the change in language would recognize pornography “for what it really is.”

“Every time that material is shared, those individuals are victimized again and again,” he told Vernon Matters.

Arnold added very few private member bills actually make it far enough to become law.

“But it looks like this one is on the path to that early in the new year.”

As for his riding, Arnold said 2022 has been a year of restarting from Covid-19.

“I would like to recognize the business community for their perseverance through the pandemic and for being there to provide the services needed by the community.”

Arnold, a resident of Salmon Arm who has been the MP since 2015, said the community support for residents in need this year has been “amazing.”

“Those that are engaged and volunteering have really stepped up to support their neighbours, and that has been evident in every community across the North Okanagan and Shuswap. I hope that continues — and I expect it will — through 2023, and the future.”

Arnold also thanked communities and the media for “getting the messages out when people needed it.”

“It’s just been incredible to see the support and how the communities have pulled together through the difficult times we’ve seen the last few years.”