Friday, March 20, 2015 • Vol.26 No.21 • Neepawa, Manitoba We offer start-to-finish solutions for every project! Serving Manitoba & SE Saskatchewan Phone: 204-841-0845
www.dehrconstruction.com
Tired of your basement being wet and unusable? We can help! We have expanded again and have the equipment, staff and training to handle all of your weeping tile needs Contact us for your FREE In Home Estimate!
FEEDING COWS?
Fashions & Gifts
263 Hamilton Street, Neepawa 204-476-5986
Nothing beats Pioneer corn and alfalfa! Top yielding corn hybrids for both silage and grazing, as well as, premium alfalfa varieties
Beef up your Beef! KULBACKI SEEDS
Locally owned and operated
ng aini Rem inter w ions fash off 35%
Chris Kulbacki & Darryl Kulbacki Box 1986, Neepawa, MB chris.kulbacki@plantpioneer.com Bus: 204-966-3245 or Cell: 204-476-6449
Banner neepawa
Filled to the rafters with beautiful NEW spring fashions
FREE
within coverage area
.com
AUTOMOTIVE:
Ram raises the bar Pages 19-20
Eileen Clarke wins PC nomination By Kate Jackman-Atkinson The Neepawa Banner On March 14, 1,233 PC Party members cast their ballots to select the party’s candidate for the Agassiz riding in the next provincial election. Eileen Clarke, Darryl Gerrard, Sheri Grant and Kelly Wilson put their names forward to replace current MLA Stu Briese, who announced last year that he wouldn’t be running in the next provincial election. Once the votes were tallied, Clarke was announced as the winner. After being announced the winner, Clarke, a business owner and former mayor of Gladstone said, “I promise I will work hard and do the best job possible… I really look forward to working with the party and for the people of Agassiz.” Candidates take to the stage While party members could cast their ballots any time between 10 am and 3 pm, registration closed at 2 pm, at which time, the candidates took to the stage to deliver their speeches. First to speak was Sheri Grant, who was nominated by Don Dufort. In his introduction, Dufort explained that PHOTO BY KATE JACKMAN-ATKINSON he had known Grant for four years and how in that time, she has been looking for some other ways to help the When the results were announced Eileen Clarke (centre) receives congratulations from (from left) PC region. He explained that in addition to running a suc- Party leader Brian Pallister, candidate Darryl Gerrard, candidate Sheri Grant and candidate Kelly Wilson. cessful business, she has enrolled in Brandon University to study political science, economics and public policy, his long involvement with the party, including seven “I have a small business become involved in the Neepawa Chamber of Commerce years as the local constituency president. Gerrard also background, that’s not the and served on town council. In all of these endeavours, stressed his knowledge of the riding, after spending 15 focus of the provincial gov- Number of eligible voters: she has found success he said. “Sheri has been on both years meeting with residents in their yards, fields, com- ernment.” He added that as 2,260 sides of the political spectrum, the side making the law bines and neighbourhoods. In those conversations, he a father of a young family, Number of ballots cast: and the side challenging the law,” he noted. said that he has heard first hand about issues important his main inspiration and 1,233 As Grant took the stage, she explained to area residents, including BiPole III, push is his daughter. While her motivation in seeking the nominathe school tax credit cap, high water he was the youngest candidate, he said he would bring A nomination tion. “The bottom line [is that] I want levels, lack of access to doctors and new enthusiasm and energy to the job. “My background to work for you,” she said. She stressed the PST hike. “The NDP tells us that and experience landed me here today, my goal is to be meeting is one of the importance of retaining services, this is a have-not province. I don’t a spokesperson for you,” he said. economic activity and growth in the area the hardest things, Eileen Clarke was the final candidate to speak and believe we’re a have not province, in order to retain the rural way of life. it’s a battle among do you? We’re a have province stuck she was nominated by both Jeff Mowat and Ivan Milne. Grant said that she would work hard and with a have-not government,” he said. In his introduction, Milne talked about Clarke’s success friends. be a strong voice for the constituency. Kelly Wilson was the third candi- as an entrepreneur, opening Clarke’s of Gladstone at Darryl Gerrard was the next to speak – Brian Pallister date to speak and he was nominated 18 years of age, and running it for 33 years. He noted, and he was nominated by Lisa Pottinger. Leader, PC Party by Brad Hackewich. Hackewich, a fifth “[Eileen’s] 33 years is more business experience than In her introduction, Pottinger noted that generation resident of the area, talked the total of the NDP caucus.” Once selling her business, Gerrard would be “common sense, not just credentials”. about Wilson’s character. “Kelly is a kind person you can Clarke served two terms as mayor of Gladstone, during She stressed Gerrard’s thorough knowledge of the area, count on to help when there’s a job… [In a tough situa- which time, the town saw $9 million in development. as well as the fact that he and his family chose the area tion] you’d like to see someone show up, you’d love to Milne noted that under her leadership, there was an to move to, invest in a business and raise a family. “He’s see Kelly,” he said. He touched upon Wilson’s work ethic environment in which people weren’t afraid to invest. not here because it’s where he began,” she said. Clarke talked about her background in politics, saying and entrepreneurial spirit to pursue farming. Gerrard began by talking about his long-term involveWilson talked about his experience building a cattle when she sold her business, she didn’t initially intend ment in provincial politics, which started when he was farm while also working full-time at Manitoba Hydro, to run for office. “I had high aspirations of what could 12 delivering flyers. He explained that despite being as a energy service and sales co-ordinator. In that be accomplished with a plan and a forward council,” encourage to run municipally, he wanted to focus on job, and his previous one as a sales representative for she said, adding that they all shared the success of provincial politics and learn the ropes so that he would Mazer Group, he travelled the area. He talked about residential and commercial growth in the community. be ready for a nomination meeting. He also pointed to his motivation for running for the nomination saying, Continued on page 2
By the numbers
“