As he waits to be sworn in, Kamloops-Thompson-Cariboo MP-elect Frank Caputo is touring his new riding.
Over the past week, the rookie MP spent time meeting his constituents in 100 Mile House, Clinton, Barriere and Clearwater.
“Right now I want to get up here as much as I can. When somebody is first elected they need to earn the trust of the community and they need to get to know the community,” said Caputo, a Conservative MP. “You’ll see me here as much as I can get here between being in Ottawa and having my family in Kamloops.”
Caputo, who plans to take over former MP Cathy McLeod’s office at the South Cariboo Business Centre on Birch Avenue in 100 Mile, said he’s found being an MP is fun, but has a steep learning curve. He said he has been doing his best to hear the concerns of the local constituents so he can take them to Ottawa when Parliament reconvenes.
He acknowledged some of these concerns he hadn’t even considered before he was elected and are now at the forefront of his mind.
“There’s a lot of issues whether it be disaster relief or infrastructure, particularly natural gas and broadband internet. I’ve been hearing a lot about things like that,” Caputo said, adding issues get interesting when the provincial and federal jurisdictions start to overlap on certain topics.
Since the election, Caputo has been to Ottawa twice and has found everyone there friendly and helpful. While much of Parliament Hill is currently under renovation he said the atmosphere is very energetic and moving.
“It’s a huge honour, I can’t really put it into words. The first time I walked into the House of Commons it was almost chilling,” Caputo said. “I think of myself as a pretty common person. My parents were both Italian Immigrants, so to walk in there knowing my family arrived in Canada two generations ago is a thrill, humbling and a big honour.”
Caputo is one of roughly 40 freshman MPs joining Parliament this year. Rather than as one big group, they’re being sworn in one by one. Caputo hopes to be sworn in officially by the first week of November.
Caputo said he would like to be assigned to Justice and First Nations reconciliation committees. He said he plans to introduce a law against sexual offences against children, something he has often dealt with as a crown prosecutor, as his first private member’s bill.
Caputo said he’d like to get a community calendar and time his visits to 100 Mile to coincide with community events. Once the COVID-19 pandemic is done he’d like to host a few town halls so people can tell him what he’s doing right and where he can improve. In the meantime, he invites those with questions or concerns to email him at frank.caputo@parl.gc.ca.
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