Incumbent Conservative MP Blake Richards launched his official campaign for re-election yesterday with an open house.

Richards was re-elected for his third term in office following the election in October 2015. To prepare for this election, Richards said he has been door-knocking and that it has been going well.

"Our goal at the start of the campaign (was to) knock on 40,000 doors, which is the doors within all of our urban communities (...) and we're well over halfway to meeting that goal. We should be able to hopefully get to every door."

Door-knocking, to Richards, it absolutely critical and he said he will be focusing on it a lot during his campaign.

"That's obviously critical. People want to have the opportunity to talk to you face-to-face and hear from you and tell you their concerns. Obviously, I want to be there to ask for their support as well."

Following the provincial election choosing a new Conservative government, Richards said he is confident people are hungry for change.

"People know we need a change. They see that our province is hurting, they see that a lot of that is because of the government we have in the federal government, and they're saying we really need some change."

During his door-knocking, Richards said there was one issue that kept being brought up.

"On an issue level, pipelines and our energy sector and the need to make sure that the policies are in place to allow it to be able to be successful. Far and away number one issue, there isn't even a close second."

Richards said that he is looking forward to his campaign.

"I'm feeling good. I'm working hard for every last vote, but I am certainly feeling like there is an appetite for some change."

Looking into the future, Richards said there was one major item in his campaign plan.

"A lot of door knocking. There are obviously other things that happen during campaigns, but primary, first and foremost, the bulk of my time, I want to make sure that the maximum number of people I can speak to face-to-face to, one-on-one, (to) give them that opportunity, that's, to me, critical in the election."

 

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