Strachan to pursue Souris-Moose Mountain nomination

The candidates are starting to line up for the Conservative Party nomination in the Souris-Moose Mountain constituency.

A third man - Torquay Mayor Mike Strachan - has announced he plans to seek the nomination and run in the 2015 federal election.

Strachan joins Estevan resident Dr. Robert Kitchen and Phil Zajac as the candidates to publicly announce their intentions.

In a press release, Strachan noted that he decided to throw his name in the hat after much contemplation about communities and families.

"As a husband and father of three young children, Mike understands the issues facing many young families today as well as issues facing the communities in our region," Strachan said in his press release.

Aside from his duties in Torquay, Strachan is a director for the Saskatchewan Urban Municipalities Association and also serves as the southeast regional rep; is a member of the Physician Recruitment Board for Saskatchewan and is chairman of the audit committee for the Torquay Credit Union.

In an interview Friday, Strachan said given his experience in Torquay and his various other roles, the move to seeking the Conservative nomination felt like a natural step for him.

"I haven't been in politics all that long but I think the bug has kind of bit me, so it's just a natural progression for me," Strachan said. "Seeing things that you have put forward, that have come to fruition and seeing how people react to what you have done, that is exciting for me."

Strachan said his involvement in SUMA has given him the chance to see what many of the issues are in southeast Saskatchewan. Not surprisingly, he said infrastructure is the top issue he has come across.

"We only have one taxpayer that funds these things so I think we need to start working with the private sector and a P3 (public private partnership) model is something that I really see would work for us in this area," said Strachan. "The private sector does not want to get involved in the small dollar figures, they want the big money figures. So we need to set up some sort of database on the people that meet infrastructure needs in an area where the private sector can come in and see value for their money.

"If it's Torquay that needs a new lagoon and say the lagoon is $3 million, you are not going to get the private sector to come in for $3 million. But, if you had five communities in that area that have infrastructure needs and the dollar value goes up to $20 to $25 million, then it makes it more feasible for everyone."

A married, father of three, Strachan said he is also concerned about the rising costs faced by families.

"Money for families is a big issue, so I really think we need to focus on balanced budgets at a federal level, paying down our deficit which would reduce the tax burden on families, and having a smaller government base that doesn't always affect peoples lives is something I would really like to see."

Strachan said he has begun building a campaign team that believes in him and his message. The second-term mayor in Torquay added he is looking forward to travelling throughout the constituency and hearing about their concerns.

"We need to really engage the whole constituency and see their needs from every corner and try and touch base with the conservative-minded people, because that is really where this is starting with the nomination for the Conservative party.

"There is two candidates that have already come out and they are viable candidates too. I just hope I am a third option that conservative-minded people can get behind."

Current MP Ed Komarnicki announced in 2013 that he would not seek another term when Canadians go to the polls in 2015.