The Reminder is making its archives back to 2003 available on our website. Please note that, due to technical limitations, archive articles are presented without the usual formatting.
Norway House Chief Ron Evans will attempt to unseat popular MP Bev Desjarlais in the upcoming federal election. Chief Evans will carry the Liberal Party banner after being acclaimed as the party's nominee Tuesday evening in The Pas. "I feel we need a representative at the decision-making tables in government so that our issues can be heard and dealt with," said the respected First Nations leader. "In order to help the constituents to really make any considerable changes or improvements, you need to be with the governing party. As a member of an opposition party, you can only accomplish so much." MP Bev Desjarlais is a member of the New Democratic Party, rivals of the governing Liberals. The chief of Norway House since 1994, Chief Evans' platform touches on many of the usual concerns of voters within the Churchill Riding. "We have health care issues, that's always a big one, education, access to higher and better education, and economic development," he said. "And housing is a big issue, not only in First Nations communities, but pretty well in the bigger communities as well." Chief Evans plans to build up his campaign by traveling to as many communities and meeting as many constituents as possible prior to the election, which is expected sometime this spring. While he will be taking on a popular incumbent in Bev Desjarlais, Chief Evans is upbeat about his chances. "I'm very optimistic. I have to be," he said. "If I'm not, I shouldn't be making an attempt at it. With the kind of support that's being indicated, I remain very optimistic." This will be Chief Evans' first foray into the federal political scene, though he did unsuccessfully seek the Liberal MP nomination in 2000, losing out to Elijah Harper. Chief Evans' nomination leaves the Conservative Party of Canada as the only party that hasn't named an MP candidate for the Churchill constituency. The Conservative Association of the Churchill Riding plans to begin approaching prospective candidates following the party's leadership convention March 21. The Churchill Riding is one of the largest federal ridings in Canada and includes Flin Flon, The Pas , Thompson and Snow Lake.
