Conservatives nominate candidate

The Conservative Party of Canada (CPC) has its Yorkton-Melville candidate for the next federal election.

In nomination meetings November 20 in Rose Valley, November 21 in Preeceville and November 22 in Yorkton, Cathay Wagantall defeated David Thomas with what constituency president Warren Kaeding described as a "decent margin."

Wagantall said the campaign was a pleasant one.

"It was very friendly, actually, really well-run and very congenial, she said. "There was no sense of animosity or competition in that way at all. I really appreciate Dave and his wife Peggy.

Wagantall felt it was hard work that gave her the edge.

"I believe it was that I did my best, I didn't quite hit a 100 per cent, but very close to every household in every community there was a membership, I knocked on their door," she explained.

Wagantall was born in Regina and moved to Esterhazy in 1967, where she now lives with her husband Marty. They have three children and seven grandchildren.

After their first business venture failed in 1985, the family moved to Alberta.

Wagantall has been involved with the Conservative Party of Canada since it first merged with Reform in 2004. She has been a delegate at four national conventions and served on the constituency boards in several ridings including Yorkton-Melville.

The couple moved back to Esterhazy three years ago and started the business PositiveSigns.

Kaeding was happy with the outcome.

"It's certainly a little bit of a different skill set than what Garry has, but she's going to do very well," he said. "She's a business person, she's involved in the community and many extra curricular activities."

While Wagantall is now officially the candidate, she said she will focus on getting to know people but will not be stepping on any toes.

"Quite honestly, this is what I believe, and am saying from my heart, at this point in time, I am a candidate in waiting," she explained. "Garry Breitkreuz is and will continue to be our member of Parliament until 2015. When the election's called, I'm the go-to gal, but until then anything to do with the issues is really Garry's privilege and responsibility to deal with."

When the writ is dropped, presumably in the fall if the government sticks to its legislation on fixed election dates, Wagantall suggested it will be a stay-the-course campaign.

"The Conservative Party is pretty clear that, and I support it completely, our continued goal is to lower taxes and meet the needs of those who need them and less government, basically our principles that we formed government on."