With longtime MP Ted Menzies officially resigned from his post in the Macleod riding, potential Conservative Party nomination candidates have begun to step up to the plate.
Menzies announced his retirement from politics Nov. 6, spurring a byelection to be held within six months of his resignation.
So far, five potential candidates have come forward with their intent to seek the nomination: Phil Rowland, Melissa Mathieson, Scott Wagner, John Barlow and Rick Wiljamaa.
For Rowland, a rancher from Mazeppa, the vacant seat in Parliament came at the right time.
“It’s the perfect time in my life and business to pursue my political goals,” said Rowland, who was born and raised in High River. “I’m capable and I’m ready to get things done.”
As manager of the Rowland Farm, along with the Ranch at Longview, Rowland is a self-described agriculture man. But his career began in the oil patch, sending him throughout Canada and into Western Australia.
He was also the president of the Western Stock Growers’ Association and sat on a number of provincial committees.
For Rowland, one of the main issues facing the riding is watershed management and watershed mitigation.
“I want to make sure we get the environmental part of the watershed discussion right,” he said. “We need to make sure we don’t have these same problems again.”
Rowland, who said he was surprised by Menzies’ retirement, said he knows he has big shoes to fill.
On this, he and 24-year-old Mathieson agree.
Mathieson, a longtime High River resident, is determined to continue the legacy that longtime Macleod MP Menzies left behind.
“It’s been more than a decade that I’ve worked for this riding,” said Mathieson. “And it’s only made me more passionate about wanting to serve as a parliamentarian.”
Not only has she volunteered for small- and large-scale political events, she took her passion even further and headed to Ottawa to work for the Prime Minister of Canada and the Minister of State for Finance.
“I know who the big players are and I know how the system in Ottawa works,” she said. “My experience can’t be underestimated.
Currently, Mathieson is working in research at the University of Calgary’s School for Public Policy.
Describing the electoral district as “diverse,” Mathieson said the concerns facing the constituents are just as wide ranging. She said issues vary from trade, to agriculture, to flood mitigation, to economic troubles.
“We’re still experiencing troubled economic times,” she said. “This affects jobs and growth in the riding.”
To learn more about Mathieson’s views, check out electmathieson.ca.
For more details about Rowland, visit the Phil Rowland for Macleod Facebook page.
As of press time, the byelection has yet to be called.
Only Conservative party members are eligible to vote for candidates running for the Conservative nomination. To join the party, visit conservative.ca.
Once a nomination candidate is selected, an election between all political parties will then be held to determine the MP for the Macleod federal electoral district.
Keep an eye on the Cochrane Eagle next week for information regarding the other candidates.
