If there's one thing that he's been taught in his political career, Banff-Airdrie MP Blake Richards says its that you need to take satisfaction in the small victories that you can achieve.  

And, for a politician in opposition, Richards says the victories don't come that often but as he looks back over 2018 there definitely were some victories, both for him personally and for the Conservative party.

Richards starts with the thing that brought him the greatest personal satisfaction, having his private members Motion 110 passed unanimously by all parties in the House of Commons.  Motion 110 was to get a study done on how better to provide support and compassion for families who have lost a child.   Richards got involved in the movement when Sarah Cormier of Airdrie came to him with her family's story of loss.

"To me, that is a highlight.  I was so struck by Sarah's story when she told it me and I've heard stories like it all across the country and I just want to do what I can to help.  That's really what the job of a Member of Parliament is.  To be able to make that huge step forward towards accomplishing that for all these families across the country, that's something that I take a lot of satisfaction in knowing that we're well on the way to accomplishing that."

From the Conservative perspective, Richards believes they've done a good job of holding the government to account.  He cites two instances in particular of doing that.

"I think back over the last little while in 2018, they had this plan that they were putting forward for Statistics Canada to be able to access people's financial records.  We were able to put the brakes on that, with a lot of pressure.  I think of this Terri-Lynne McClintic who participated in the murder of young Tori Stafford being transferred into this healing lodge where she wasn't even behind bars.  We were able to get that reversed.  It's these small victories that you're able to have and we just try to do what we can to stem the tide and what we can offer to give Canadians a better government."

When asked what the greatest challenge that faced Canada in 2018 and what the greatest challenge in 2019 will be, Richards, answers with two words.  "Justin Trudeau," he says flatly.   He then goes on to elaborates.

"Quite honestly, the lack of pipelines.  That is the biggest challenge we faced in 2018 and it will continue to be the challenge for 2019.  It's not only doing horrible damage to our economy but it's threatening the unity of this country, and it's entirely of the government's doing.  This is not something that market forces are creating, this is not something that anything besides government action, or inaction, is causing.

Richards believes the government has put up every roadblock possible for pipelines.  He says Justin Trudeau has effectively killed two of them and now has the last hope, the TransMountain Pipeline, on taxpayer-funded life support.  He says that if the government passes Bill C-69, it will end any possibility of ever building another pipeline in Canada.  

Richards says he and the Conservative party are anticipating the federal election in 2019.  "I cannot wait to get the opportunity to bring our ideas forward to Canadians, to let them cast judgment on the direction of this Trudeau government.  I will do everything I can, with every ounce of strength I've got in me to make sure that happens because it's critical for this country."

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