A second candidate has entered the race for the federal Conservative party nomination in northern Saskatchewan.
Richard Nelson, a farmer and business owner from near the Battlefords, began his campaign for the vacant Desnethé-Missinippi-Churchill River nomination on April 16.
“[Desnethé-Missinippi-Churchill River] needs a strong voice to show Ottawa that we don't need their policies – they need ours,” said Nelson in an email to The Reminder.
“The Canadian government is completely out of touch with everyone in this riding. Promises after promises have been made by the NDP and the Liberal Party to the people and our region and very, very rarely have they came through,” said Nelson.
One of the key issues Nelson wants to address is the federal carbon tax plan; something that he believes could be harmful to the north.
“Carbon tax is the number one threat to our way of life in the north…Our mining and forestry industries will be put at a huge competitive disadvantage,” he said.
It is the first time Nelson has ever run for elected office, following years of campaigning for the federal Conservatives and the Saskatchewan Party. Nelson has visited multiple communities within the riding, mostly in northwest Saskatchewan. The candidate has plans to visit Creighton and multiple other northern communities in May.
“I want to hear the concerns of each of every person in our riding,” said Nelson.
The Desnethé-Missinippi-Churchill River riding is currently held by the NDP’s Georgina Jolibois, a former mayor of La Loche. The riding is one of Canada’s largest, spanning much of the northern half of the province and stretching to the province’s western and eastern borders.
Creighton, Denare Beach, Pelican Narrows, Sandy Bay and dozens of other communities are included in the riding.
The next federal election will take place either on or before Oct. 21, 2019.
Nelson joins former Saskatchewan Party campaign manager Al Jurgens as a candidate for the open spot.
