(The Canadian Press/Jacques Boissinot)

By Josh Hall (Twitter: @Vancan19)

MPs Dreeshen and Calkins react to Poilievre leadership win

Sep 13, 2022 | 4:45 PM

Red Deer’s two Members of Parliament are very pleased with longtime Ontario MP Pierre Poilievre being elected as leader of the Conservative Party of Canada.

In a Facebook post, Red Deer-Lacombe MP Blaine Calkins wrote, “I am happy! I have a sense of hope and optimism for the future of this great country that I haven’t had in quite some time! God Bless Canada!”

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Meantime, Red Deer-Mountain View’s Earl Dreeshen wrote on his Facebook page, calling it, “a huge win by my friend.”

Congratulations Pierre, I know you are the right man for the job and the right leader to win the next election and I look forward to working with you and our Caucus to defeat Justin Trudeau,” wrote Dreeshen.

In a phone interview with rdnewsNOW, Calkins called the victory decisive and a no-doubter.

“There’s a tremendous amount of interest in replacing the tired, corrupt and woke Liberal government under [Prime Minister] Justin Trudeau, and getting back to the things that matter to Canadians, such as affordability, having a good-paying job, keeping your hard-earned money, affording a home, and saving for retirement,” said Calkins. “These are the things Pierre Poilievre has touched on.”

Asked how Poilievre will succeed where Andrew Scheer and Erin O’Toole did not, Calkins noted that, “timing is everything.”

“There’s still an election to come. Right now, Justin Trudeau and [NDP leader] Jagmeet Singh have an agreement in place and if it holds, we’ll have an election later than sooner,” says Calkins.

“The thing I like about Pierre is that he is clear in his convictions, about what he wants to do, about which Canadians are suffering right now and need help. He has not only the right solutions, but the ability to deliver. He’s been part of previous successful Conservative governments and I think the nation is ready for a change in direction.”

MP Dreeshen did not return our request for further comment by publication time.