Northerner Tries Hand At Politics With Young Party

Northerner Tries Hand At Politics With Young Party

Monday, September 15, 2008 at 12:47

 

 

A La Ronge resident is hoping to officially add his name to the list of candidates that are running in the Desnethe-Missinippi-Churchill River riding in the October 14th federal election.

 

Rob Ballantyne is a graduate of the University of Saskatchewan with a degree in northern studies.

 

He is one of five people who have expressed intentions to run for the First Peoples Party of Canada.

 

The fledgling party hopes the election of one or more of its candidates to office will raise the profile of Aboriginal issues in this country.

 

Ballantyne, who has roots in Stanley Mission, says he is tired of the way the mainstream parties have treated Aboriginal concerns, and says there needs to be a change.

 

He likes the fact his party is “Aboriginal-specific”, and feels it is a “true representative” of Aboriginal people.

 

He will need to collect 50 signatures this week before he can officially file his papers.

 

Ballantyne stresses that although he doesn’t have a budget to work with, he does have a core group of supporters.