Incumbent MP John Duncan is now facing a challenge in his bid to be the Conservative Party's candidate for the new Courtenay-Alberni riding in next year's general election.
Patrick Chenier, a resident of Errington near Parksville, has been involved in municipal and provincial elections before, but this is his first run for a federal nomination.
He urged as many supporters as possible to sign up as party members in Courtenay-Alberni before the June 26 cut-off to enable them to take part in the nomination voting process.
"I have an excellent history throughout the community, grassroots initiatives, capital markets, the Aboriginal community and sport," he said. And he claimed "hands-on, robust experience in community leadership and politics over the span of two decades."
Chenier said his priorities reflected those shared by many local people — a need to create jobs for young families to fulfil their dreams; to create security for people in their mid and late career stages; and to protect and improve the lifestyle of retirees.
"We need to focus on a strong stable government that has a net positive effect on mid-Islander lifestyle," he added.
Outside politics, Chenier is an active Rotarian and member of the Parksville and District Chamber of Commerce. He has served as president of the Parksville Newcomers Club and as a member of Parksville and District Community Awards Committee. In the past, he has also been a board member of SportBC and BC Athletics, a trustee of the Greater Victoria Public Library, and president of the Saanich Community Legacy Foundation.
In politics, he is a board member of the Conservative Party of Canada's Courtenay-Alberni Electoral District Association and also first vice-president of the B.C. Liberals' Alberni-Pacific Rim Riding Association.
While there is still time for further candidates to emerge before Thursday's nomination deadline, Chenier told the Echo that apart from John Duncan he had not heard of anyone else intending to throw their hat into the ring.
Party supporters wanting more information about Chenier or his campaign to secure the nomination can contact him by email at [email protected] or by calling 250-927-2725.
If both Chenier and Duncan are confirmed as candidates, the ballot of party members will likely be held by mid-July.
The new Courtenay-Alberni riding includes the City of Courtenay, the Village of Cumberland and parts of the Comox Valley to the south — including Denman and Hornby Islands, Union Bay and Fanny Bay — in addition to areas farther south and west, including Qualicum Beach, Parksville, Port Alberni and Tofino.
