Is Chris Carrier the future of the Conservative Party?

I just could not pass up a chance to say a few words about former Collingwood Mayor, Chris Carrier. As nearly everyone knows the Federal Conservatives are looking to replace Helena Guergis in Simcoe-Grey. A few people have stepped forward to throw their hats into the ring. I've made comments are the good Doctor, and now it's my turn to say a few words about Mr. Carrier.

First let me say that I've never met Mr. Carrier, but everyone knows about his 4 year stint as Mayor of Collingwood. I came across a letter that Mr. Carrier posted on his campaign website and here it is below with my comments for your viewing pleasure.

Ever since the clock struck midnight on New Year’s Eve, the talk in all forms of our media has been rife with speculation about an impending federal election. From traditional print, radio and television to the digital world of promotional websites, social media, plus the pervasive blogosphere, there is no shortage of opinions and predictions on a possible date when Canadians will be going to the polls to choose the 308 people who will be elected
to serve as MPs in the next parliament. Some, possibly even a majority, will become members of our next federal government. Election speculation ranges from early to late spring of this year to the fall of 2012.
Here in the electoral district of Simcoe-Grey, all of the major political parties operate a riding association. The main function of these local branches of the national parties, in anticipation of an election, is to choose and pledge support for a single candidate who will represent the party in the riding throughout a general election campaign.  During a nomination meeting local party members gather to hear from those who wish to be the party’s standard bearer, and then pick a nominee.

The Conservative Party Riding Association in Simcoe-Grey is in the unique and most favourable position of having three outstanding, highly accomplished individuals who are vying for the nomination to be the next MP from the Southern Georgian Bay area.

Two of these candidates appear to enjoy the support of many prominent people from deep within the halls of power and privilege in this country. This invariably must lead one to wonder why there is so much interest in this nomination race from outside the Simcoe-Grey area. Are there ulterior motives, perhaps of a mischievous or sinister nature, at play here? Is there a movement designed to discourage other very specific potential candidates from running?


Yes, I think it might be the scary Liberals, Greens and NDP that have nothing better to do then to be sinister, and create this vast movement who's number one goal is to prevent you from being the Conservative candidate.

As we all know elections, and indeed nominations too, are all about numbers. Who has the best chance of winning the most votes? When political party riding associations meet to choose their candidates there is always only one over-riding ballot question: “WHO IS THE MOST ELECTABLE? Fortunately Conservatives here do have that all-important Local Choice. Former mayor of Collingwood Chris Carrier announced last August that he would not be standing for re-election. Mayor Carrier, who has been described by one local media outlet as “Simcoe-Grey’s favourite son”, became the first to launch his bid for the Conservative nomination. Recently Mr. Carrier said that while he knows the other candidates to be good, dedicated Conservatives, the people of Simcoe-Grey want and deserve a full-time MP. “We need a representative in Ottawa who is prepared to devote all of his time and energy to getting things done for the people of this riding.” 

Yes we need a full-time MP, and I guess you need a full-time job, so maybe that's the true reason you are running

Chris Carrier is a firm believer in the tried and true Canadian tradition of responsible representative government. 
Are we not all firm believers in a responsible representative government????

The electoral district of Simcoe-Grey is much more than a mere collection of names of villages, townships, towns and counties, or boundaries on an election map, grouped together as a result of census data and other constitutional and political considerations. Simcoe-Grey is about the people who have chosen to live their lives here.  We own the land here.
We do own the land? Gee I always had this strange feeling that the land was owned by someone else..

 We have built our homes here. We are raising and educating our children here. We are running the businesses and employing local people to provide the products and services we all want and need.

Mr., Carrier summarized his reasons for pursuing a new political challenge.  
Hang on to your hats everyone this is going to be funny.... 

“I am running to provide Simcoe-Grey residents the best LOCAL choice to be (your) champion in Ottawa. I have served our community over the past four decades through volunteering with local community groups, by running a local industrial business for 22 years, by serving as an elected official for 14 years, by raising a family here in our community. I know what day-to-day life, 365 days a year, year after year is in Simcoe-Grey. 
So do I Chris it's called snow, snow and more snow...
  
I know what it means when you say ‘I live here. I work here, and yes I have a lot of fun here too!’ I know the people of Simcoe-Grey because I am from Simcoe-Grey. My local experiences, community life, plus business and political expertise provide me with the best qualifications to take your, our concerns to Ottawa… Why am I running for the Conservative Party of Canada? I want to be Simcoe-Grey’s best Local Champion in Ottawa as a member of Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s government.”

When asked about his general political philosophy, Chris Carrier described himself as a “… true fiscal conservative with a demonstrable record of delivering conservative values in elected offices as a municipal councilor throughout the riding to most recently as the mayor of Collingwood .”

Ok, I followed the past 4 years when Mr. Carrier was Mayor of Collingwood and for him to say that he's a fiscal conservative, is like me saying that I'm a strong Conservative supporter. It's hogwash, as Carrier's actions as mayor by allowing the towns debt to nearly triple is not what a fiscal Conservative does, it's more like an NDP, or Liberal. No offence to my Liberal and NDP friends.

He has a deep understanding of the issues facing a riding as large and diverse as Simcoe Grey. His constituents seem to agree. A recent letter to the editor in the Enterprise Bulletin congratulated the former mayor and Collingwod Council. “Many thanks and compliments to our former mayor, Chris Carrier, and his team of councilors for all their hard work and efforts… Their legacy will be there as a testament to co-operation, will, vision, and hard work. It is doubtful that any mayor and council accomplished so much as in the previous term of office.”  

Sounds to me that the Carrier campaign team got a few pointers from Helena Guergis's staff member on letter writing.

The list is impressive. Some highlights include: the donation of a parcel of public land for the creation of The Georgian College Permanent Campus giving Simcoe-Grey’s young people a major institution for post-secondary education; investing in badly needed sewer and storm water infrastructure; road reconstruction and improvements with more than $10.4 million in provincial funding for upgrades to Poplar Side Road and Concession 27/28; over $2 million for the First Street reconstruction and $4 million for Collingwood’s historic downtown; through persistent lobbying with the province’s Ministry of Transportation, the reinstatement of the Highway 26 realignment to be completed in the Spring of 2012; improvements to local public transit resulting in massive increases in ridership; and with the opening of the Shipyard Promenade, public access to the Collingwood waterfront for the first time in over 100 years.

Looking to the future as our MP, Chris Carrier is anxious to continue his work on your behalf on projects like: the renovations and expansion of the Collingwood Regional Airport; inter-municipal public transit services; the creation of even more affordable public housing units; and permanent public ownership of the Silver Creek Wetlands. Knowing many of the local and regional politicians and understanding their need for a continued strengthened relationship with their Federal Member, Chris is anxious to build upon Simcoe-Grey’s stimulus successes.

Chris is a life-long resident of this riding. He grew up on a local family farm in Clearview Township, and has raised his own family here in Simcoe-Grey.  Speaking about rural issues before a receptive group of farmers in Creemore Mr. Carrier said: “I am a supporter of supply management… The concerns I have heard from our farming community about the price of fuel, lack of parts supply, the cost of insurance, and the cost of imported labour all indicate it is getting more expensive, not less, to run our farming businesses. And yet, 2 national newspapers are advocating that you should earn less for the sale of your products…. I signed the declaration of support for Supply Management. .. (As your MP) I will continue to work full-time listening, learning and speaking out about your needs in pursuit of a better understanding of all issues facing our agri-business. I want to explore further with you the potential and implications of issues like the Bio-Gas component of the Green Energy Act, plus exciting, new technological developments and proposed programs like Vertical Farming.”

The quest for the Conservative nomination in Simcoe-Grey is now fully joined. What happens now? At this point in the political process, the next step is for the Conservative Riding Association to set a date for the nomination meeting. Best estimates are that it will be called for sometime in late February, or early March. Do you believe for Conservatives in Simcoe-Grey the Choice Is Clear?  Do you want Chris Carrier to be our next MP? We need you help. The time to act is NOW! Please follow the links on this website and:

1. Become a member of the Conservative Party of Canada. NEVER GOING TO HAPPEN!
2. Sign up for Chris’s E-Newsletter. NOT INTERESTED!
3. Host a coffee party where your friends and neighbours can meet and chat with Chris. SURE ARE SANDWICHES ALLOWED!
4. Send Chris a list of email addresses and/or phone numbers for your friends and business associates so he can send them a personal message, and let everybody know the date for the Conservative nomination meeting NOTHING LIKE RECEIVING SPAM FROM YOUR LOCAL CONSERVATIVE PARTY!
5. If you feel inclined, make a donation or give an endorsement to the Carrier Campaign. I'LL DONATE AND GIVE AN ENDORSEMENT, BUT I THINK CHRIS WANTS SOME SORT OF A FIGHTING CHANCE IN WINNING THIS THING!
6. Invite Chris to speak before your group or organization and attend other Chris Carrier events announced on this website. I HEAR THAT THE LOCAL LIBERALS AND GREENS ARE HOSTING EVENTS SOON, WOULD LOVE TO HAVE CHRIS SPEAK ABOUT BEING A FISCAL CONSERVATIVE.
7. And most importantly, BE SURE TO ATTEND THE CONSERVATIVE PARTY RIDING ASSOCIATION NOMINATION MEETING AND VOTE FOR SIMCOE-GREY’S FAVOURITE SON… CHRIS CARRIER. IF HE'S THE "FAVORITE SON" THEN WHO'S THE FAVORITE DAUGHTER!

A final word from Chris:
“I understand what a privilege it is to serve in public life. It is a privilege I have enjoyed for many years, and I believe I can be of even greater service to our community as the next MP. I thank you in advance for placing your confidence in me, your neighbour not a stranger.”

Written by: John Hanlon