Honourable senators, today I want to honour a dear friend and former Conservative caucus colleague Robert Sopuck, who passed away last Wednesday.

Robert was a dedicated member of Parliament who served with distinction through the Forty-first and Forty-second Parliaments, representing the riding of Dauphin—Swan River—Neepawa. Bob was a tremendous asset to the Conservative team: He was the Chair of the Manitoba Regional Caucus, Chair of the Canada-Ukraine Parliamentary Friendship Group and he also served on the Standing Committee on Environment and Sustainable Development and the Standing Committee on Fisheries and Oceans.

In 2012, M.P. Sopuck founded and chaired the Conservative Hunting and Angling Caucus, which is a platform for members of Parliament to address the concerns of farmers, anglers and trappers, allowing their voices be heard at the federal level and ensuring environmental conservation and respect for traditional practices.

In 2015, Bob was appointed as the opposition critic for wildlife conservation and Parks Canada and Deputy Shadow Minister for Environment and Climate Change. His expertise as a biologist and his passion as an avid outdoorsman was invaluable in shaping legislation that balanced environmental benefits with the needs of rural communities. His contributions were recognized internationally when he was named the International Legislator of the Year by Safari Club International in 2017.

His leadership in opposing Bill C-246, the modernizing animal protections act, which threatened traditional animal-use practices, was a testament to his dedication to preserving Canada’s cultural and economic values. Although his parliamentary achievements are monumental, Robert’s professional background was equally impressive. With degrees from the University of Manitoba and Cornell University, he held crucial roles in fisheries management, sustainable development, environmental programs and agricultural and rural policy development.

Having said all this, what I appreciated most about Robert Sopuck was his sincerity and passion for the great outdoors. I encourage everyone to take the time in the weeks ahead to read some of his columns in the Winnipeg Free Press or his book A Life Outdoors: Essays on Hunting, Gathering and Country Living in the 21st Century.

Colleagues, I don’t have enough time to list all of Bob’s awards, experiences and expertise, but I want to salute “the right-wing environmentalist.” This nickname always made him smile proudly for the indelible impact he made in his community, his province and his country.

Robert Sopuck will be remembered as a respectable advocate, a knowledgeable leader and an impactful outdoorsman policy-maker. Our thoughts and prayers go out to his wife, Caroline, his two children, his three grandchildren and all who had the privilege of knowing Bob.

Thank you.