Some former members of the Edmonton City Council are speaking about the mayor of the capital of Alberta, taking the absence of absence for a political comeback at the federal level.
Amarjit Sohi’s tenure as mayor does not end until the municipal elections are held in the fall, but he is temporarily removing the job to run the federal for the Liberal Party of Canada in the Edmonton-Southeast ride.
In 2015, Sohi took away from his role as Edmonton City Councilor, so that a successful run was made to pick up the Liberal MP, eventually named Former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s cabinet. However, he lost his seat in 2019 and then launched a successful campaign to become mayor in 2021.
Stephen Mendel, who served three terms as Edmonton’s mayor from 2004 to 2013, said that he was not surprised by Sohina’s decision to try to return to the House CommM.
“This is not the most publicly popular council or mayor, and this gives him a chance to go and run the southeast,” Mendel told Global News on Monday. “If he wins, great. And if he doesn’t, then great – he is out, he is gone and does what he wants to do.
“It’s a little frustrating that as a mayor, not as a councilor, to leave the position. You decide to stay four years and then proceed to move a little time.”
Mendel said he believes that municipal issues related to policing, fire departments and transportation are just as important as federal legislators.
“To move to federal politics, to go to TT Tova and some distant places, which I do not know how effective it is for the city, the mayor is effective for our city and it is considered to be our leader,” he said.
Sohi has said that if he wins a meeting for the liberals, he will resign as a mayor. However, if he loses in the April 28 election, he will resume his duties as mayor until his tenure ends and will not get a second.
Mendel noted that he did not question the loyalty of Sohi and his passion for Alberta’s capital city.
“Amarjit is definitely committed to Edmonton and I don’t think he is in question,” he said. “But it’s about a job. You will take a job and you are committed to doing it or do it and did not commit to doing it and he decided both times because he saw a chance that his mind was better. And this time he did it again.
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“So voters have to decide what it really means.”
Kim Krushel served in the City Council with Sohi when he was a City Councilor and said he thought that Sohi had shown interest in politics at different levels because he cares for Edmonton. “
“I think all of us were a little surprised, but I think I was not completely surprised because it always cares for the federal government.” “I mean he was in the government – he was a minister and actually negotiated on the pipeline.
“I think some Edmontonians will ask, ‘Well, why would he do this?’ And it really takes into account Canada.
Sohi said that his decision to participate for the liberals was “very quickly” and members of the Liberal leader Mark Carne’s team asked him to run because he wanted local leaders to get the election in “one of the most consequential federal elections we ever seen in our history”.
“Our sovereignty is under attack,” Sohee said that the US on his desire to make Canadian goods and Canada a 51st state. President Donald refers to Trump’s tariff. “Our lifestyle is under attack due to the threat of working families and local businesses, tariffs and connections.
“(Admontonians) If liberals form a government, there is a need to keep the sound on the table.”
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Kruchell said that he believed that the Canadian Conservative Party would continue to perform well in Alberta in this election but added that if Liberals form the government, he would like to play Albertons.
“Let’s become real, usually the only way you pick is by the belief of the name,” he said. “And someone who is not so popular in this particular province, has a lot of beliefs going on in the ride, it is likely to give you a seat and voicing TT in TT. And I think Alberta will be important to all.
“I really think federal (politics) is right for them.”
The City Council has discussed the request for the absence of Sohini absence
Admonton City Councilors held a special meeting on Monday to discuss the desire to take the unpaid leave of Sohini’s absence and unanimously approved it. Counter. Tim cartmail did not vote because he is campaigning to become the next mayor of the city.
In a statement issued over the weekend, the cartmail said that he believes that if Sohi wants to participate in the “Limbo status”, instead of leaving the City Council, he should resign only.
Counter. Rew Nudru Nak said that there was an informal practice in Edmonton City Hall that the council members take unpaid leave of the absence if the members of the Council participate for the Office Fissure at another level other than the municipality.
He said, “This is something we have now seen in the council four times – with Amarjit Sohi twice,” he added that taking an unpaid leave of absence is the right approach.
Nak said that if Sohi is elected to the federal level, the City Council will need to discuss how to fill the mayor’s role for his tenure. He noticed that the counter. Currently the Deputy Mayor is the Karen Princip, will help fill the void when the Sohi is away. He noted that the role of the deputy mayor is turned into members of the council every four weeks.
“I don’t care,” Knock said the deputy mayor will help fill during the absence of the mayor when they are away for a vacation or out of the city.
He said last year that he would not ask for a re -election as a City Councilor, he is now planning to run for the mayor in the light of Sohi’s decision.
“I will seriously consider,” he added, “he added that when Sohi would try to participate for liberals, people started calling it and mayor could not participate.
“People arrive and it’s very gentle to ask that question.”
Mendel said he feared that the City Council would “Fle Ound No.” while Sohi is far away.
“The mayor is the figure that brings the council together, trying to advance an agenda, trying to manage challenges inside and between councilors.” “If they are not there, there is a vacuum.
“Losing the mayor will make a big difference.”
Global News, with Sarah Komadina files
