A Year In Review.... A Conservative's Tale

I have always been a grassroots conservative. I believe that you should be able to recall your elected official in a national election campaign (which we did in 2008) and should also be able to recall them within a party nomination. The people that respresent us are entrusted to do the duty of both the members of the political party and their constituents.

Any active person in a political party, should be able to stand next to the previously nominated candidate and challenge them for the right to be the party candidate, in an open and a fair nomination, at regular intervals. The members should then be able to use their judgement and have a free vote, with regards to keeping their current candidate or choosing a new opportunity with a new candidate. This is fundamental democracy. It is what being a conservative is all about.

It has been nearly a year since the Conservative Party of Canada decided to hold an opportunity for nomination contests throughout the Conservative held ridings in Canada. Ballots were mailed to all members, in all the ridings of Canada. When members recieved the ballot it asked them if they wished to retain or remove their Member of Parliament. In all Conservative ridings in Canada, no nominations were opened. The ballots required 2/3's of member's to agree to hold a nomination; any unreturned ballot counted against holding a nomination.

I realized that holding an open nomination was important in my home riding of Edmonton-East; where I live and work. I attempted to see an open nomination held. I truly felt that if there was not another candidate running for in the pre-nomination ballot, people would feel that there were no other options and no reason to have a nomination. I decided it was something worth taking a stand for. I decided I would run out of principle and was determined to fight for the continuation of open nomination practices.

The road was bumpy and in the end I learnt more about democracy, I met more wonderful people and supporters for the issues I believe in. There is now a nominated candidate in Edmonton-East for the next federal election. This year I was elected with 29 other individuals to once again represent the issues of the members and sit on the Electoral District Association of Edmonton-East. I will not waiver in my beliefs. I am comitted to serving the board and its members and I hope for a beneficial year to follow.