Gravity of times persuaded Edmonton mayor to join federal election race

One of the newest federal ridings in Edmonton has one of the candidates with the most political experience. CTV News Edmonton's Connor Hogg has more.

The concerns are big – national sovereignty, economic security, affordability – and matter to many Canadians and to the people who live in southeast Edmonton, according to Amarjeet Sohi.

They, says Edmonton’s mayor, are why he chose to temporarily leave his post and join the race to represent the area in the House of Commons.

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Sohi, who was elected mayor four years ago and has been working as a politician since 2007 at both city council and at Parliament, is running for the Liberals in Edmonton Southeast, which was partly carved out of the former Edmonton Mill Woods riding.

“I think people are really focused on these big issues,” Sohi told CTV News Edmonton last week of threats to Canada’s sovereignty by new U.S. President Donald Trump and of several examples of affordability issues.

“People are focused on our relations with the United States, who is going to fix that relationship, and who is going to be actually in a position and have the experience and the temperament to deal with such a volatile situation, someone who can focus on the economy, get things done and improve affordability, improve public safety and have a strong voice.”

Sohi and Jagsharan Singh Mahal are the two hopefuls running for the parties that have the strongest chances of forming government. Conservative aspirant Mahal, a lawyer and first-time political candidate, did not respond to CTV News Edmonton when asked for an interview about his campaign.

The others seeking election in Edmonton Southeast are Corinne Benson of the Communist Party of Canada, independent Gurleen Chandi, Harpreet Grewal of the NDP and Martin Schuetza of the People’s Party of Canada.

The 59-year-old Sohi has experience at the federal level as both a member of Parliament and as a cabinet minister, a background that, along with his time as a city councillor in the area, he says would be beneficial to constituents if he wins the seat in Monday’s election.

“People in this part of the city know that I can get big things done, that I can provide leadership and that I can take that leadership to the national stage and be a strong voice for Edmonton, but particularly for Edmonton Southeast.”

With files from CTV News Edmonton’s Connor Hogg