The Conservative Party of Canada leadership race is on the homestretch and candidates are making a final push for voters by campaigning across the country.
Leslyn Lewis was in Lloydminster during the evening of August 11th to speak with residents and answer questions they had about her leadership and policies. Lewis was introduced by Battlefords-Lloydminster MP Rosemarie Falk who endorsed Lewis early in the leadership race.
“This is my first time here and my support is so strong. I think it’s because I’ve been true to conservative values. I haven’t hid from what our true conservative values are and my platform has been based on that.”
After hearing about frustrations with how the west is treated federally, she says she will be a voice to represent Western Canada in the east.
“I’ve been very sympathetic to the west, but it wasn’t until I came out here in February and I saw the devastation. I saw people who lost people to suicide, people who lost their homes, lost everything. That’s when it hit me that the impact of bad national policies can have really profound effects on the real lives of people to the point where entire communities are devastated.”
On the topic of western alienation, Lewis says she’s concerned of the growing influence around parties such as the Wexit movement.
“There’s a potential that it could fracture our confederation. I think we’re going to have to sit down and have some serious conversations about the issue of western alienation because the effects of it are really brewing and it could lead to the country falling apart.”
She says part of that regional discontent came from policies that were discriminatory against the oil and gas industry. She says the industry is needed in the recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic and she will create policies that will entice corporations to come back and invest in Canada.
“We need to create a stable economy and stable policies whereby industries will have confidence to come back and invest and know that the rules won’t be changed halfway through the game.”
Lewis mentions she will also repeal Bills C-48 and C-69. She says the environment will be included in all aspects of their policies including the oil and gas industry.
“I would provide incentives for that sector to modernize some of the technology so that we have reduced emissions and our production is even more environmentally friendly than it was before.”
She says orphan well reclamation and restoration will also play a role in bringing jobs to Saskatchewan and Alberta.
Lewis continues her campaign and is travelling through Alberta this week. Other candidates vying for the leadership role are Derek Sloane, Peter McKay and Erin O’Toole. Conservative Party members will be sending in their ballots by August 21st and a leader will be chosen by the end of the month.