We officially have a race to replace the retiring Cathy McLeod as the Kamloops-area Member of Parliament.
The original developer and founder of Tobiano, Michael Grenier, is seeking the Conservative nomination for the Kamloops-Thompson-Cariboo riding ahead of the next federal election.
“We find ourselves in uncertain times. We are concerned for our families, we’re concerned for our houses and our mortgages. We’re concerned for our businesses and our jobs. We’re impacted by COVID and a slowing economy. We’re also impacted by a Federal Liberal Government that seems remote, disorganized, unresponsive, and superficial,” Grenier told reporters during a conference call Monday morning.
Four years ago, Grenier unsuccessfully sought the BC Liberal nomination for Kamloops-North Thompson, losing out to current MLA Peter Milobar.
The 61-year-old resident of Sun Peaks and Tobiano talked about improving rural internet, attracting airlines to the Kamloops Airport, supporting tourism, supporting economic development and resource-based projects and continuing to improve relationships with Indigenous leaders and communities.
“Our message is about connectively, its about certainty, its about economic development, its about major projects and its about doing all of those things in the context of our environment, and our lifestyle,” he said. “That’s what we have to offer in the Kamloops-Thompson-Cariboo. That’s what I will be going to Ottawa to make sure that we can enhance.”
Grenier is currently a member of the B.C. Agricultural Council, and a past member of the Kamloops Chamber of Commerce and Canadian Home Builders Association, among other groups. In announcing his bid to seek the nomination, he mentioned his past experience of collaborating with Indigenous people as well as the province of British Columbia.
“We have unreconciled claims from generations ago, continuing to affect all the constituents of our region,” he said.
Grenier joins Tourism Kamloops CEO Beverley DeSantis who is also seeking the Conservative nomination. There is no date yet for when a nomination meeting will be held.
The next federal election is currently scheduled for for Oct. 2023, though with a minority government in place, a snap election could be called any time before that.
“We’re ready to go as soon as the writ is dropped,” Grenier added.
(Photo via Michael Grenier on facebook)
