Canmore resident Marlo Raynolds was acclaimed as the Liberal Party nominee for the Banff-Airdrie riding on May 25.
Raynolds will represent the Liberals in the upcoming 2015 federal election that is tentatively set for Oct. 19, 2015.
The father of two said he is excited to finally be named the Liberal nominee but he knows the hardest part is ahead of him.
“The real hard work really begins now, this is a very big and diverse riding and I’m looking forward to getting out and engaging with as many people as I can,” said Raynolds.
Raynolds is the former executive director of the Pembina Institute and current vice president of market development with Calgary-based BluEarth Renewables, a renewable energy company.
His ties to the energy sector has formed one of the pillars that he has built his campaign on, according to Raynolds.
“In our resource-based economy, we need to be ensuring that we’re putting the best environmental protection practices in place,” said Raynolds.
“Our current government hasn’t really delivered on promises to reduce green house gasses.”
Raynolds’ other two pillars are to assist middle- class families, and especially those at the lower end of middle class as well as new families, through a tax system that will help those who are struggling to put money aside.
His third motivator is to promote change in the democratic decision making process at congress, and have more voices heard.
“Under the current system of decision making, there is no genuine two-way dialogue,” said Raynolds. “I hope that I can bring more local ideas and values to the table.”
Speaking on those values, Raynolds said he’s intrigued and excited about the unique riding of Banff-Airdrie, that he calls, “a microcosm of Alberta.”
“It’s incredibly unique, we have the parks and mountain regions, the heavy industry with companies like Lafarge, the resource sector and the urban centre of Airdrie where there are so many small business owners and entrepreneurs,” said Raynolds.
“I have a whole bunch to learn about this riding and the people here but I’m hoping to meet as many people as I can to help build a strong Alberta.”
The Banff-Airdrie riding is a new electoral district that replaced the former Wild Rose district. It encompasses, Banff, Canmore, Cochrane, Airdrie, Didsbury and Olds plus the Stoney Nakoda First Nation.
Conservative MP Blake Richards has held office in the riding since 2008.
