One of Estevan's most well-known health care professionals has announced his plans to seek the Conservative Party nomination in the Souris-Moose Mountain Constituency for the 2015 federal election.
Dr. Robert Kitchen is the first to publicly declare his intentions to fill the seat that has been held by Ed Komarnicki since 2004. Komarnicki announced earlier this year that he will not run for re-election when his term expires in roughly two years.
In an interview with The Mercury Monday, Kitchen said he has long held an interest in politics and has been involved on a behind-the-scenes basis with a handful of parties over the years.
Now, with the support of his wife Donna and their three children behind him, Kitchen feels the timing is right to step into the political ring.
"Ed has done a fantastic job here, and I thought he would go another term, so it was never really on my radar," said Kitchen, who has worked as a chiropractor in the city for around 25 years. "I've been interested in my politics since my university days when I used to be one of the grunts and the gofers. That got me interested in politics back in those days and it has always been there."
Kitchen said federal politics have long been of particular interest, something he credited to growing up in a military family, an upbringing that saw him live in a number of Canadian cities as well as countries such as Pakistan, Iran, the United States, England and Afghanistan.
"I'm an army brat," he said. "My father was involved quite heavily in diplomatic affairs and was a Major-General when he retired. I was exposed to many different things, different governance models; some are good and some are not so good. It has always been an interest, and I follow it so closely."
Kitchen added this is not the first time he has considered taking a run for a seat in Parliament. When former Conservative MP Roy Bailey announced his retirement in 2003, Kitchen said he explored the idea of seeking the nomination before deciding it was not the right time from a family and professional perspective.
"It wasn't right for me, it wasn't right for my practice and my patients the kids were young and still involved with hockey and things like that," he said. "Once the kids moved on, I got into leadership roles within the profession. I was the registrar for the profession and the registrar is basically a public protector so I was involved in policing my own profession.
"I was also president of the (Canadian Federation of Chiropractic Regulatory and Educational Accrediting Boards) dealing with all of the regulators across Canada. I am in my second year as past-president. I was involved from an international perspective too. I was involved with labour mobility, basically dealing with bringing foreign trained chiropractors to Canada. I was the chair of setting up a national standard that we are trying to get for across Canada."
Kitchen noted there are a number of aspects of his work as a chiropractor and with the various professional bodies that have helped prepare him for a potential second career in politics.
"I have spent the last 25 to 30 years navigating people through the health-care system. Now I think I want to change that to maybe go into something a little different and help them in other aspects, because there is so much going on with immigration and the economy, which are huge aspects that we deal with."
While the next federal election is scheduled for the fall of 2015, it's not a stretch to say that the race to win the Conservative nomination will likely determine the next MP, as the party has had a stranglehold on Souris-Moose Mountain since the riding was created in 1987. Former Liberal MP Bernie Collins is the only non-Conservative/Reform politician to win an election since that time.
Kitchen said he is well aware of the importance of the nomination process and will be out selling memberships not only within Estevan but throughout the entire riding. He added through his involvement with his children's sports, in particular hockey, he knows many people throughout Souris-Moose Mountain.
"Obviously I need to get to be known in other areas (of Souris-Moose Mountain) but with that said, I have contacts that will hopefully help me out," said Kitchen, who added that he expects to face stiff competition for the nomination.
"I am expecting that and I welcome it. Obviously it is a challenge and there are other people who are going to be able to do just as good and I think that will be good for the constituents. I'd like to believe I've got the skills; I've got the experience and I've got the leadership skills that I have developed over the years."
Given his background in health care, Kitchen said that is an issue that interests him. However, he noted that growing up around the world in an army family has shaped an interest in the military as well. He added that seniors issues are also of importance to him and his wife through their careers in health care.
As of press time, no other candidates had publicly declared their intentions to run but there have been rumours that some announcements are expected in the near future.
