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Hillyer to run for federal seat |
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Written by Delon Shurtz
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Sunday, March 07 2010, 10:22 PM |
Don’t ask Conservative candidate Jim Hillyer about his platform as he prepares for the next federal election. He’d much rather tell you about his core philosophies and principles.
Platforms change from election to election, and some issues discussed during an election race may no longer be relevant by the time election day rolls around. But personal philosophies and principles endure, and tell voters something about the candidates for whom they are voting.
“We need to ask different questions when it comes to politics,” Hillyer says.
Hillyer, who is seeking the Conservative nomination for the Lethbridge constituency to replace MP Rick Casson in the next federal election, has some specific thoughts about senate reform, gun control, same-sex marriage and Canada’s role in the war in Afghanistan. But when it comes to principles, he believes in the same principles of “true” conservatives, where the government functions in a truly democratic system, is subject to the law like everyone else, and shouldn’t be able to change laws when it suits the party.
The 35-year-old family man and business consultant also believes Lethbridge needs a candidate who is not just willing to support his constituents, but able influence the government to change its policies to better conform to Canadians’ wishes. Rarely do MPs go against party policy in favour of constituents, but when they do, they are punished.
The trick, Hillyer says, is to vote for someone who can influence the party without getting kicked out of caucus, and he believes he is that person.
Hillyer also encourages Canadians to become more involved in politics; to vote and hold politicians accountable. He says Canadians complain politicians can’t be trusted, aren’t representing them, and are doing a poor job, yet too many Canadians don’t vote and are content to let those same politicians make important decisions for the country. Without more public participation in politics, the problems will never go away, Hillyer says.
“The problems are going to be solved when we solve them together.”
Although he’s never been a politician, Hillyer has come close. The Raymond resident came close to winning the Alliance nomination in Saskatchewan where he was a virtual stranger running against three other well-known candidates. He just showed up with his speech and lost by 20 votes.
He was also constituency president for the Saskatchewan Party in Regina, and was nominated in the spring of 2001 to run in the next federal election. However, he was forced to drop out after he was diagnosed with leukemia, from which he has since recovered following a long, difficult struggle.
After returning to southern Alberta, where he was born and raised, he hoped to win the Conservative nomination in 2003, but that didn’t pan out after the Alliance and Progressive Conservative parties merged to form the Conservative Party of Canada.
In January, Casson announced his intention to retire at the end of this term, after representing the region in Ottawa for more than a dozen years. The Electoral District Association board has suggested June 5 for the nomination meeting, but the actual date will be determined by the national campaign director in consultation with the Candidate Nomination Committee.
In addition to Hillyer, long-time Lethbridge businessman Mark Switzer is seeking the Conservative nomination. Former university professor Mark Sandilands, who placed second in the last federal election, has been acclaimed the Lethbridge New Democrats’ candidate once again.
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