Sopuck remembered as defender of rural life

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This article was published 26/10/2024 (524 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Former Dauphin-Swan River-Neepawa Conservative MP Robert Sopuck died earlier this week at the age of 73, his family confirmed Friday.

Sopuck’s stepdaughter Marsha Street said in a statement on behalf of the family that they “were shocked by the sudden, but peaceful passing of Robert on October 23.”

According to Sopuck’s own website, he earned a master of science degree from Cornell University in 1975. That led to a first career as a district biologist for the Department of Fisheries and Oceans and later as a fisheries biologist for the Province of Manitoba.

Sopuck first entered Parliament in 2010 when he won the byelection to replace Inky Mark in Dauphin-Swan River-Neepawa after Mark stepped down to run for mayor of Dauphin.

He was then re-elected in the 2011 and 2015 federal elections.

While serving as an MP in former prime minister Stephen Harper’s government, Sopuck served on the Standing Committee for Environment and Sustainable Development as well as the Standing Committee on Fisheries and Oceans.

He also chaired the Canada-Ukraine Parliamentary Friendship Group and the Conservative Hunting and Angling Caucus. After the Tories lost power in the 2015 federal election, Sopuck was tasked by former interim party leader Rona Ambrose to be the opposition critic for wildlife conservation and Parks Canada.

“Robert led a full life, rich in experience, love, challenges and accomplishments,” Street said in her statement. “He made major contributions to land, water and wildlife conservation locally and nationally; along the way he mentored many young people who, in various ways, have picked up the torch for issues and challenges that mattered to him; he was a loving husband, father, uncle and grandfather to family members who knew how much they were loved by him, and now keenly feel his untimely passing.”

She mentioned his advocacy for the rural way of life, the rebuilding of Highway 10 through Riding Mountain National Park, his work as an environment policy adviser in Gary Filmon’s provincial government as well as conservation organizations like the Manitoba Habitat Conservancy as some of his accomplishments.

“Ottawa work aside, he looked forward to meeting and hearing the views of constituents, often in coffee shops or at post offices across the constituency,” Street said.

From 2013 through 2019, Brandon-Souris Conservative MP Larry Maguire worked with Sopuck both in government and in opposition.

Speaking by phone from Ottawa on Friday, Maguire said that Sopuck was “living proof” that conservation is part of being a conservative.

“He really was a man of the land,” Maguire said. “To the point where even on fisheries committees and that sort of thing here in Parliament, the government side when we were in opposition used to come and ask him if what they were doing was the proper thing. When he was in government, he was very well respected by all members of the opposition.”

Maguire gave credit to Sopuck for helping establish a fund to help clean up lakes across the country. He said money from that fund was used to help restore Pelican Lake in his own riding, before the Liberals cut it in 2015.

In 2017, Safari Club International named Sopuck its “legislator of the year” at its annual conference in Las Vegas. Maguire recalled surprising Sopuck by making the trip down to Nevada without telling him.

“He didn’t know I was there until he sat down at the table,” Maguire said. “He just looked up and said ‘what in the world are you doing here, Larry?’ That was probably the best reward that I ever got from the man. He was so shocked and thrilled to think that a colleague would come all the way down there and he didn’t even know about it. That was one of the best remembrances that I’ll ever have of he and (his wife) Caroline.”

After Sopuck’s retirement in 2019, Dan Mazier was elected as the Conservative MP for the riding in both that year’s federal election and the 2021 election.

On X (formerly Twitter), Mazier lauded Sopuck for dedicating his life to “defending and promoting the rural way of life.”

“Bob never shied away from fighting for rural Canadians,” Mazier said. “He had a soft and caring heart for the people he represented, yet a fierce commitment to his work. I will forever be grateful for his personal support over the years and for his willingness to share his plethora of knowledge and sage advice.”

Also on X, Harper called Sopuck a “formidable colleague.”

“He championed Ukraine’s sovereignty, chaired the Hunting and Angling Caucus, and worked tirelessly for the people of Western Manitoba,” Harper said. “Bob is in our prayers this evening as we extend our heartfelt condolences to his family and loved ones.”

Current Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre said he was “deeply saddened” by Sopuck’s passing.

“Bob was a proud Manitoban and defender of all of Canada’s rural communities, and especially of our hunters and anglers,” Poilievre said. “My condolences to his loved ones, those who were close to him in our Conservative family and all who had the honour of knowing him.”

In a press release Friday, Manitoba Progressive Conservative interim leader Wayne Ewasko called Sopuck “a true champion for rural Manitoba and a mentor to many in the Legislature.”

On Facebook, Riding Mountain Progressive Conservative MLA Greg Nesbitt said Sopuck was a “true mentor” for himself and Swan River MLA Rick Wowchuk when their party formed government in 2016.

“Bob always believed it was important to protect and defend the rural way of life, rural culture and the rural economy and he accomplished that during his tenure as a member of the federal Conservative Party of Canada,” Nesbitt said.

Others mourning Sopuck’s death online included former Opposition leader Erin O’Toole, Calgary Nose Hill Conservative MP Michelle Rempel Garner and Agriculture Minister Lawrence MacAulay.

According to the website for Rae’s Funeral Service, a celebration of life for Sopuck will be held on Nov. 2 at the Sandy Lake Community Hall.

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