Federal Conservative Party members have a stark choice in the upcoming nomination vote on February 24 in Renfrew and Barry’s Bay and the 25th in Pembroke, between the incumbent Cheryl Gallant and the challenger Mike Coates.
No matter where your livelihood comes from we all experience the challenge of making ends meet and providing a good life for our families, including having hope that are families can stay in the riding and share in our rich way of living. Unfortunately, the last twenty-five years have not been kind to Renfrew County. We have clearly become a have not riding. While we stoically carry on, with the same spirit as our forefathers brought to this land, it would sure be nice if we had an advocate in Ottawa who had a plan to lift the county from our negative economic situation.
After eighteen years, we know what to expect from the incumbent: more of the same. There’s a reason why our representative has never advanced within the Conservative caucus either as part of the governing party or in opposition. Her brand has succeeded in isolating the riding from the political dialogue and has ensured that we have virtually no influence on policy development and management within the party. The incumbent has never been a parliamentary assistant, or portfolio critic, let alone in cabinet in eighteen years in Ottawa. The last time this riding had a cabinet minister was when Joe Greene was our Member of Parliament in the sixties and early seventies when the county was humming with economic activity.
So what’s the choice? The incumbent has spent much of her time during the nomination period describing her opponent, Mike Coates, as a lobbyist! So what is a lobbyist? Webster’s dictionary describes a lobbyist as an individual who conducts activities aimed at influencing public officials toward a desired action. Doesn’t sound too scary to me. Wouldn’t we like to have a representative who can move around political circles in Ottawa, work with our MPP representative in Ontario and influence policy and regulatory matters that would actually make things better for our riding?
It’s time we had an advocate, yes a lobbyist, who has a plan for economic and social development. Whether you are in the agricultural sector, forestry, manufacturing, scientific research or military, wouldn’t you want someone on our side who is working to drive change that gets government working for us, not against us? I like the odds of success, working within caucus and government, rather than resolutely sitting on the sidelines, re-litigating yesterday’s issues.
It’s past time for Renfrew-Nipissing-Pembroke to emerge from within the Conservative Party as a positive, fresh Conservative voice. Our riding deserves more attention in Ottawa. Our way of life is secure, we just need a representative like Mike Coates who already knows his way around the party to fight for our needs and values and insist we get our fair share.
J. Hugh Brownlee, White Lake
