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Devin Dreeshen seeks UCP nomination in Innisfail-Sylvan Lake

Feb 13, 2018 | 1:20 PM

A second candidate is entering the race for the UCP nomination in the Innisfail-Sylvan Lake constituency.

The Innisfail-born, fifth-generation farm owner and son of Red Deer – Mountain View MP Earl Dreeshen announced Tuesday his plans to seek the nomination.

“I have deep roots in this community,” Dreeshen said in a media release. “The Notley government is piling taxes and regulations on our farmers and our resource industries, while ignoring critical infrastructure needs of rural towns, villages and counties. I want to join the United Conservative team in the Legislature to tell the NDP they can’t ignore the people here.”

Dreeshen, a long-time conservative party activist, says he’s earned endorsements for the UCP nomination from former Innisfail-Sylvan Lake MLA Luke Ouelette and former federal Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz.

Dreeshen, who farms near Pine Lake, is a director of the Western Canadian Wheat Growers Association and serves as a board member on the Crossroads Agricultural Society. He is also a volunteer at the Pine Lake Country Fair. He already has political experience of his own, working as an advisor for Ritz from 2008-15.

Devin Dreeshen presently owns a consulting business advising agricultural stakeholders on trade issues both provincially and nationally, especially in the context of NAFTA renegotiations.

He joins Penhold Town Councillor Mike Walsh in the race to replace MacIntyre, who resigned earlier this month.

Dates for the nomination meeting and the byelection have not yet been announced.