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Frank Caputo sworn in as Kamloops-Thompson-Cariboo MP

Victor Kaisar
Nov 2, 2021 | 2:14 PM


Frank Caputo sworn in as Kamloops-Thompson-Cariboo MP

Frank Caputo pictured with Conservative Leader, Erin O'Toole. (Photo via Frank Caputo)

Six weeks after being elected as the new Member of Parliament in the Kamloops area, Frank Caputo has been sworn into office.

Speaking to NL News from Ottawa, Caputo says he is “profoundly proud” to have been officially been sworn in as Member of Parliament for Kamloops-Thompson-Cariboo.

“Members are given the option to either swear an oath of allegiance to Her Majesty or to affirm the same, I chose to swear and that was with a number of loved ones present and it was something I will never, ever forget,” he said.

“My family was by my side. They’ve sacrificed a tremendous amount, especially wife and my children, so I wanted them to have the opportunity to see me personally be sworn in since they literally were part of my arriving in Ottawa as Member of Parliament.”

Caputo takes over from Cathy McLeod who retired after four terms in office as the area MP, serving from 2008 to 2021. He becomes the third consecutive Conservative MP in the Kamloops area after McLeod and Betty Hinton who was MP from 2000 until 2008.

A Crown prosecutor, Caputo says he is looking forward to serving his constituents, whether they voted for him or not, when the 44th Parliament gets underway on Nov. 22.

“[My swearing in] was one of the later ones. I believe that it is a matter of whether you do it virtually as in online or whether you do it in person. Given that this was my first time, I chose to do it in person,” Caputo said.

“Some of these processes take time but I’m just happy its all done now and I’m looking forward to taking my seat now in the House of Commons.”

Caputo finished with 30,281 votes (43 per cent) in the Sept. 20 election, beating out the NDP’s Bill Sundhu who was second with 20,431 votes (29 per cent).

As for his future, Caputo says he is hoping to be given a critic role in either Indigenous Affairs and Reconciliation, Public Safety, or Justice in the Shadow Cabinet of Erin O’Toole.

“The do canvas members as to their interests and those are the areas in which I am hoping to making a difference not just for the people for Kamloops-Thompson-Cariboo but Canadian citizens at large,” he said.

Caputo’s predecessor, Cathy McLeod was the Shadow Minister for Crown-Indigenous Relations, as well as the Shadow Minister for Natural Resources (Forestry and Mining) while in opposition.