Conservative Party members in the Cypress Hill-Grasslands riding will be heading to the polls this weekend. On June 14 & 15 the local riding association will be holding their vote to replace retiring Member of Parlaiment David Anderson. Sean Osmar is the regional organiser for the Conservative Party of Canada. He'll be acting as the returning officer for the riding's vote.

"So members can vote of Friday the 14th. We're going to have voting from 10am to 1pm in Maple Creek at the Cobble Creek Lodge. Then in the afternoon we move  to Kindersley where voting will take place from 5pm to 8pm at the Kindersley Inn."

On Saturday the vote will move South to Assiniboia, where it will be held at the Canalta Hotel, it then moves to Swift Current for the afternoon at the local high school. The winner will be anounced after the ballots are counted in Swift Current on Saturday night. It is a ranked ballot system, and party members can select their preference of candidate when they vote on Friday and Saturday.

"With six candidates I expect it will go through a couple ballots," Mr. Osmar said. "On the ballot you have to select at least one, you don't have to select more than that. I always tell members to select at least two, because if your pick drops off the ballot you will still get a say as the voting progresses. But that is optional to the members."

With six nominations in the field, Mr. Osmar feels a sense of excitment in the race.

"It's an important election coming up. With six candidates out there, our membership is up. So we want to make sure our members get out there and pick our nominee for the next federal election."

The six candidates running are Kelly Williamson from Pambrun, Kyle Bennett from Shaunavon, Sean Checkley from Fox Valley, Norm Nordgulen from Assiniboia, Jeremy Patzer from Swift Current, and Megz Reynolds from Kyle. All the Candidates did participate in a forum in Swift Current in May.

The following is an excerpt from the forum article provided by SwiftCurrentOnline.com. (Written by Tanner Wallace-Scribner)
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Bennett said that he made the decision to run because he was frustrated with the federal government. 

"Frustrated with the Liberal government," he said. "Giving money away and increasing our taxes and giving more money away. As a business owner and I also work in the oil field, but just frustrated with how things are going lately, and not happy with what's going on. Also, David Anderson, retiring is a pretty big deal in this riding. It's a once in a lifetime opportunity, and anytime I am presented with a great opportunity, I jump on it and try to do the best with it." 

Bennett said that his main focus points are on the economy. 

"We need to build those pipelines, we've got to work on those agriculture trade deals," he said. "The current government hasn't done anything to help our economy out, and I think that is what the federal government's job is. Is to create a positive atmosphere for business to grow and for the industry to flourish." 

"I believe my experience with business, municipal politics and boards as well as my ties to oil and gas and agriculture," Bennett said while talking about why he believes he's the right fit. "I'm pretty well rounded with every industry that's in this area. I know what's going on; I have a pretty good understanding of how each industry works." 

Checkly said his diversity with a variety of topics was why he decided to run. 

"My background and experience in municipal politics, experience in agriculture, experience in oil and gas and I feel my experience can represent the riding of Cypress-Hills grasslands truthfully, honestly, and effectively," he said. "Because of those experiences and I have the interest and knowledge that we need to move those industries forward." 

Checkley continued to say that his experience is something that also makes him fit for the job. 

"I think experience talks for itself and that experience is important when it comes to policy, whether it's infrastructure needs for a larger city or a smaller village. We need somebody that understands the trade deals, that we are not getting when it comes to agriculture, and we need somebody who is proud of the oil and gas industry, and I've seen far too many friends lose their careers in the oil and gas industry and that is one of the other main reasons I'm running," he said. "To be an advocate of something that we do very sustainably, and very environmentally friendly, and we need to proud of that have that story told." 

Checkley noted that this election is all about the economy. 

"Economy is what helps us look after social issues, whether it's mental health funding or whatever the case may be when it comes to health care or even infrastructure builds, but we need a strong economy," he said. "We need our agriculture, manufacturing, our oil and gas industries to be strong. We need to add value and have value-added projects added into our economy through Cypress Hills-Grasslands, and we need to make sure we have an advocate that understands that and the best possible way." 

Nordgulen said that he felt like there was a need and that's why he decided to run. 

"I know I have the experience with my SARM background. I guess I thought there was a need after being in Ottawa lobbying; I made up my mind to run." 

Nordgulen said that he wants to focus on improving the state of seniors in the province and see farmers take home more of their money. 

"I think my number one thing, and I'm even surprised about it is the state of our seniors and the hardships with their limited pensions," he said. "I also want to see farmers get the benefit of their lifetime's work. We actually started this a couple of years ago through SARM lobbying for a raise in the capital gain exception. I know in my area we were buying land for about $30,00 in 1980, and now it's over $300,000. That's a 1,000-per-cent increase in my books. At the time, the capital gain was only half a million, and now it's a million, I'd like to see these farmers take home more of their hard-earned money." 

Nordgulen said it's up to the voters to decide who's the best fit.

"This is a democracy; I'm not going to tell anyone I'm the right person," he noted. "They have to hear everyone's story and what they can do for people, and I know I have the experience for sure given my background in municipal politics and all the committees I've been on I think I can bring fiscal responsibility. I know in my RM when I took over seven years, we were in a definite, know we are sitting pretty, and we haven't raised taxes at all in seven years." 

Patzer said he wanted to run to try to shape the country for the future. 

"I've got a young family of my own, and I want to make sure Canada is a country, where our young people can be encouraged to reach for their dreams and be able to have the opportunity to have good jobs," he said. "Be able to be encouraged to be entrepreneurs and be willing to go get that education, and be able to say, 'This country is great; it's supporting me as an individual." 

Patzer said for him; he wants to focus on being in touch with the issues of the people in the riding. 

"I've been in tune with the party, and now it's about being in tune with the membership and hearing from people and hearing what's going on in our communities in our industries whether its agriculture, the oil and gas sector," he said. "We are all pretty in tune with what's going on with that, but we need to keep talking to people hear what's really going on." 

Patzer said his committed to the Conservative Party is why be believe he is the best fit. 

"Just commitment to the Conservative Party. I've been involved in the party as a director since 2015, and I've been conservative since the party was formed in 2003," he said. "I'm committed to the party, and committed to the direction that we are going and I think to keep working with people and keep seeing what we can do." 

Reynolds said after being actively engaged and being a voice for the people in southwest Saskatchewan 

"Probably the biggest reason is that in the past couple years, I threw my engagement in policy and fighting different policy items like small business tax changes and carbon tax," she said. "I've realized that not only do I have a voice, but I have a way of communicating that I can positively affect change and I've been able to positively affect change. I've got two little girls, I'm worried about their future, I want to help create a better future not only for our riding at this time but for our riding for our next generation." 

Reynolds said that she is focused on connecting with people and listening to individuals on what they have to say. 

"I'm actually really focused on getting out and having one on one conversations," she said. "I try to do more listening than telling what's wrong. All of the candidates have very similar platforms which is going to happen unless you're living under a rock. We understand what our riding needs and I think that the main point in moving forward is it needs to be understood that the best solutions and the best outcomes come from listening, talking and to working with everybody in our industry in the riding to create that better future." 

Reynolds said that she believes she is the right woman for the job because she's already been to Ottawa. 

"I've always been able to positively affect change, so I have a track record that shows that I'm a strong, trusted voice," she noted. "I've established myself in Ottawa already. I'm already connected with the party, and I honestly believe I have the best shot at holding a predominant position in the party and holding a cabinet position one day." 

Williamson said he felt running for the Cypress Hills-Grasslands Nomination was the next step for him in making a change. 

"The main reason is to take that extra step to make a difference for my community and my riding," he said. "I've been involved with all kinds of different organizations whether it be industry, or community organizations or municipal, and this logically is the next step to have effective change." 

Williamson believes that his experience sets him apart from the rest of the field.

"Right from my education, having my professional agrologist designation, being actively involved with agriculture, having my own business and also stepping up and being involved numerous industry organizations over the years," Williamson continued. "Being a reeve on my local municipality and engagements with different federal committees and engagements with different provincial committees. It's those experiences that give me the foundation to be able to engage in the activities needed as an MP down the road. I don't claim to know everything, but this experience will help me figure out the path forward to gain the next level of experience and fundamentals that I'm going to need to carry out the task as an MP."

Williamson added that his major focus would be on pipelines.  

"Once we get pipelines in place, we can take the stress off the rail industry. Once that stress is off the rail industry, of course, we can put other commodities on their such as grain and potash," he said. "My second would be the development of infrastructure needed for rural and urban municipalities. That infrastructure is crucial to getting our products to mainlines, and it's crucial for our communities to function. If we don't have some of the basic necessities such as water infrastructure, sewer infrastructure, our communities aren't going to be able to function. I think we need to be strategic and collaborative about those infrastructure developments."

Normally nominations happen in one location and evening, but due to the sheer size of this riding, four locations have been chosen throughout the riding. 

The four locations include Maple Creek, Kindersley, Assiniboia and Swift Current. The voting will be held over two days from Friday, June 14 to Saturday, June 15. The winner will be announced after ballot counting on the Saturday.