Cory Lystang, Libertarian Party of Canada candidate for the Yellowhead riding.

By rdnewsNOW staff

Yellowhead

Meet the candidate: Cory Lystang, Libertarian Party of Canada

Oct 18, 2019 | 12:18 PM

Brought-up as a Conservative supporter, the Libertarian Party of Canada candidate for the riding of Yellowhead, says it was the Conservative Party not doing what they said they would do that prompted him to run in this year’s federal election.

As a result, Cory Lystang says he became disillusioned with government and got into politics while fighting for the rights of firearms owners.

“The Libertarian Party is a good fit because I definitely believe that government is too large,” he explains. “We pay way too much tax and it kind of ticks all the boxes. Once you get over the idea that you don’t have a right to tell other people what to do, as long as they’re not damaging anything of yours, or yourself, it all kind of works for me.”

Lystang describes the Party as being based on the ‘Libertarian ideal’.

“Which means basically government should be restrained and smaller and taxation should be kept to an absolute minimum, if at all,” he explains. “We would be happy to see government become voluntary, instead of a paid position. The basics behind the Libertarian platform are less government, lower taxes and more freedom, that’s the basis behind everything that the Libertarian Party stands for.”

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However, pipelines are the biggest issue Lystang hears about on the campaign trail throughout the Yellowhead riding.

“We believe the pipeline should be able to go through, so long as all of the people have come up with contracts with the companies,” says Lystang. “We don’t believe that the government should have been involved in buying the pipeline, it was going to be put in without taxpayer’s money.”

In terms of climate change, Lystang says you won’t find Libertarians suggesting it’s a non-issue.

“We would like to look at more of a market approach, than a government regulation approach,” says Lystang. “If you look back through history, government can’t claim any successes in the environment. Most of the greatest Green technology has always been brought forward by individuals and companies trying to make a better product.”

Lystang says government should step out of the way and let the market itself address the environment.

“It could be argued that a regulation could stand in the way of the next creative energy source because we’re focusing on ethanol let’s say for an example, and not on clean, nuclear energy,” adds Lystang.

With electors set to cast their ballots on Monday, Lystang says he and the Libertarian Party of Canada make a great choice for undecided voters.

“We speak to people that just want to be left alone and go to work every day,” he explains. “That’s our average person, and that’s our average candidate as well. I come from a farming and oilfield background, so I’m not afraid to roll up my sleeves and get to work.”

The oilfield supervisor and business owner says if elected, would represent the voters, even if he didn’t personally agree with their position.

“As long as it’s not increasing government, increasing taxation or decreasing freedom,” he exclaims.

Regardless, Lystang hopes both he and the Libertarian Party of Canada are able to increase their percentage of voters in this year’s election.

“We truly believe that once you’re elected, you don’t have as much power in changing government,” says Lystang. “We’re actually trying to change the opinion of the public, rather than just getting elected and pulling some political levers and expecting everyone to agree with you. That’s not how real change happens, real change happens based on education and just offering the alternative, is basically all we’re really here to do.”