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Nelson announces run for Conservative Party nomination

Apr 16, 2018 | 5:00 PM

A second candidate has put his name forward for the Conservative Party nomination in the federal riding of Desnethe-Missinippi-Churchill River.

Richard Andrew Nelson announced he will seek the nomination in the northern riding. Nelson, who runs an equipment storage business and pasture remediation service, became the second candidate to put his name forward for the nomination after Al Jurgens announced he would also seek the nomination earlier this month.

Nelson operates his business and runs a small farm, which includes a flock of chickens and a cherry orchard, from the Battlefords area, but said much of his work is done throughout the North. He and his family are also looking for land for a potential move to the area, he said. Nelson said he has been preparing for a potential run for office by studying political science, Canadian history and Aboriginal self-government at university, and by working on several campaigns for other candidates.

There are numerous business and economic opportunities in the north, Nelson said, but problems around transportation and shipping are hindering growth.

“Voters right now are very concerned about their families, and they’re very concerned about our economy and they don’t feel like the federal government is engaging with us in a meaningful way,” Nelson said. “We need to get to every corner of this riding and we need to hear people’s concerns in those areas.”

The continuing rail backlog and high transportation costs are also impacting producers’ bottom line, he said.

“Our ag producers here have to truck their grain further. A job-killing carbon tax is the last thing we need,” Nelson added.

The next federal election is expected to take place on or before October 21, 2019.

 

Charlene.tebbutt@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @Charlene Tebbutt