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thejasperlocal.com
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monday, january 15, 2018 // ISSUE 113
BRRRRING IT! // WHISTLER’S JENNIFER BROPHY WAS STILL SMILING ON HER LAST LAP DURING THE FROSTY’S FAT BIKE RACE AT THE FAIRMONT JASPER PARK LODGE DECEMBER 11. IN -23 DEGREE WEATHER, THE FROSTY’S SERIES KICKED OFF JASPER IN JANUARY. // BOB COVEY
MP Jim Eglinski won't seek re-election Yellowhead’s Conservative Member of Parliament, Jim Eglinski, is hanging up his political sash. On January 9 he announced he won’t seek re-election when federal parliament is dissolved.
Eglinski said he relied on veteran hill staff—particularly his executive assistant, Jeannette Gasparini—to get him up to speed on parliamentary procedures.
“I had a long talk with my wife,” said Eglinski, whose riding office is in Edson. “I want to spend more time with my family.”
One thing he’s learned after 52 years in municipal and federal politics is to check your assumptions at the door.
Eglinski’s entry into federal politics was abrupt. The 69-year-old former RCMP member and Mayor of Fort St. John, B.C. was elected to represent Yellowhead in a 2014 by-election. He was re-elected in 2015. “When I got elected they said ‘here’s your office, here’s your budget, open your office, get going,” he said. “At least in an election year you get a couple of study sessions.”
“I had to learn fast: How do I present? How do I speak on a bill?” he recalled.
“You may think your philosophy is right but I’ve learned to make decisions only after you’ve heard from people. You can’t be hard-nosed in this line of work.” Eglinski is well-known for his commitment to visiting each community in his riding as much as possible. He will be in Jasper next week to visit with local schools. bob covey // bob@thejasperlocal.com