For an MP with just over seven years on the job, Ed Komarnicki is getting to be a veteran at this whole election thing.
Komarnicki, who was first elected to Parliament in 2004, is in the early stages of his fourth campaign after the Conservative government was defeated following a non-confidence motion that declared the government in contempt of Parliament.
Prime Minister Stephen Harper met with Governor General David Johnson Saturday morning to dissolve Parliament and later announced Canadians would be heading to the polls May 2.
Like many of his Conservative Party colleagues, Komarnicki feels another election is unnecessary at this particular time and expects Canadians will punish the Liberals, NDP and Bloc Quebecois for their decision to topple the government.
"I think the coalition parties who had set their mind to the fact they wanted an election and had worked in unison in committees for quite awhile and put forward this motion will be held responsible and accountable for it," said Komarnicki.
Friday's non-confidence vote came just three days after the Conservative government had tabled its 2011-12 budget. There was hope the budget document, which contained some new social spending designed to curry the favour of NDP leader Jack Layton, would be enough to fend off an election for the foreseeable future.
That was obviously not the case and the budget is now a key piece of the Conservative Party platform for the campaign.
"It's the kind of budget we need for the time and it is unfortunate that the three opposition ganged up together to bring us down," Komarnicki said. "But we probably do need to settle that issue. It is difficult to govern in a minority government, particularly when parties either agree or form an agreement to make it difficult for you. We were outnumbered in every committee in the House and of course, to pass any legislation you have to have one of them supporting you so if they agree together you can't get anything accomplished.
"Lately, it was obvious that the parties were voting in unison. It didn't matter what you hoped to do, it wasn't going to work. Even on this (non-confidence contempt) motion that they put before the house, they determined that was what they were going to do before they heard the evidence. Then they heard the evidence and actually didn't report the full summary of the evidence to the House and then had a vote on the motion in any event. It's politics being played for their own individual advantage, not necessarily for the good of the country so when you get to that place it is probably best to get it resolved."
That possible resolution will result in Komarnicki's fourth election campaign, a remarkable number considering the relatively short period he has been an MP. In comparison, longtime Souris Moose-Mountain MP Len Gustafson was in office from 1979 to 1993 and was involved in four campaigns during his tenure
While speaking to The Mercury shortly after Friday's vote, Komarnicki said his first order of business would be getting back home to Estevan and securing a campaign office both here and in Weyburn.
"I have prepared my election signs, we'll have to get a team together for that. There are a number of activities we need to be working on and I will certainly do that. I think it is important to meet people on the ground, talk to them, see what they are thinking and earn their respect and their vote for a return to Parliament so I will be working pretty hard so I can ensure that I can hold my seat.
"I like to mix and mingle with the people and actually get involved with the workings of the campaign and the office. I even go out on the road and pound a few signs."
Whether or not Komarnicki will face much of a challenge for his seat might be the biggest question of the local campaign. Both the NDP and Liberal parties ran parachute candidates in the 2008 election and not surprisingly Komarnicki captured over 70 per cent of the vote.
As of Monday, neither the Liberals nor NDP had publicly declared a candidate for the constituency. The Green Party website lists Bob Deptuck of Rocanville as their candidate for Souris-Moose Mountain but there is no indication the site has been updated from the 2008 election when Deptuck also represented the party.
