Blaine Calkins/Conservative candidate
Blaine Calkins is the incumbent Member of Parliament for the Wetaskiwin constituency as a member of the Conservative Party of Canada.
Calkins, 42, was born and raised in Lacombe before graduating from the University of Alberta with a Bachelor of Science in Zoology. He was elected as a municipal councillor for Lacombe and served on a variety of councils before his foray into federal politics.
Calkins believes the current election facing the country is unnecessary.
“I’ve heard a lot about how frustrated people are that we are having our fourth election in seven years and they really don’t buy into this notion that the opposition manufactured about contempt of parliament. Everybody sees through that for the sham it is,” he said.
He felt the conservatives brought forward a responsible budget that considered the needs of all Canadians.
“It was a responsible budget. We had small but affordable measures going forward. A low tax agenda to create jobs and keep our economy on track. Canada is doing as well as any other country in the world right now as far as coming out of this recession.”
Calkins also felt there were a few issues that directly affected the Wetaskiwin area that still needed to be addressed, beginning with the long gun registry.
“As long as Michael Ignatieff is the leader of the Liberal party and if he does form a coalition government through some back door strategy, the long gun registry is here to stay. If the issue is dangerous crime you go after those people not law abiding citizens whether they live in rural Canada, farmers, law abiding hunters or if they live in the city.”
The Wetaskiwin riding is a farming community and Calkins said he’s heard from farmers that would like to see what grain prices would be on the open market.
“I have farmers coming to me telling me that they would like to move their grain…a lot of them would like the option to opt out of the Wheat Board and to create the business environment that is right for them,” said Calkins.
Health care is a topic that always comes to the forefront during an election.
“The public health care system is the only system my family has ever used and I need to make sure it is there in the future, not only for my family but for every family. All through our spectrum of life we depend on our health care system,” said Calkins. “At the same time we can find efficiencies and make sure we are delivering the best, accountable health system we can for the tax dollars we are spending.”
He touched on some of the initiatives the government has created through health Canada including their strategy for dealing with cancer, investing in opportunities to reduce health care wait times, and various issues dealing with Canadian’s health.
“The health and safety of Canadians is paramount for any government,” said Calkins.