MP Blaine Calkins, now on the campaign trail for the upcoming fall election, said he finds people are even more engaged than usual when he chats with them about the political future of the country.
“I’ve enjoyed getting out and chatting,” he said.
Calkins was sorry to lose some of his former rural constituents when the boundaries of his riding changed, but is enjoying meeting with the people from Sylvan Lake and Red Deer as well as those in the rural area.
Calkins does not believe the country is in a recession.
“This (time) will be remembered as the recession that wasn’t a recession,” he said.
He noted the forecast for jobs is good, noting that a re-elected Conservative government will aim to create 1.3 million new jobs by 2020.
He said a balanced budget, low taxes across the board and a single seniors tax credit to be introduced by the Conservatives clearly show the Party has a handle on the country’s financial picture.
“The numbers should speak for themselves,” he said. “We are the envy of our peer countries.”
Calkins noted the situation in the Middle East is cause for concern not only among his constituents, but for all Canadians.
“It is a sensitive issue,” he said.
Keeping Canadians safe from the threat of terrorism and protecting vulnerable minorities overseas are a priority of the Harper government, he said.
Ongoing efforts of the Party include creating banned travel zones in terrorist-controlled parts of the world to stop foreign fighters who return to Canada after launching terrorist attacks. Assisting victims of ISIS in Iraq and Syria by providing humanitarian aid and refugee assistance is also part of the government’s plan, he said.