Tories Select Their Man To Run In Northern Riding

Tories Select Their Man To Run In Northern Riding

Monday, November 19, 2007 at 13:33

 

 

An RCMP officer who originally hails from the Muskeg Lake Cree Nation has been selected as the Conservative nominee for the Desnethe-Missinipi Churchill River riding.

 

Robert Clarke says part of the reason he decided to run under the Tory banner was because of what he calls their strong commitment to Aboriginal issues.

 

Clarke says Stephen Harper and Jim Prentice came through for residential school survivors when they needed it most.

 

He also advises northerners to disregard Liberal protests that the compensation payouts for residential school survivors are proceeding too slowly.

 

Clarke says the Tories delivered on the payments, unlike the Liberals, and he’s confident the cheques will get to everyone.

 

He also believes the party is doing its best to help impoverished citizens throughout the country.

 

Clarke adds he is familiar with the social conditions facing northerners after being stationed at detachments in Ile-a-la-Crosse, Red Earth, Sandy Lake and Onion Lake.

 

Clarke is a 40-year-old married father of two who is currently on leave from the RCMP.

 

Two men are running for the Liberal nomination in the riding — David Orchard and John Dorion.

 

The NDP say they have approached eight individuals about running in Desnethe-Missinippi-Churchill River. A spokesman says two of them have declined the invitation, while the other six are still mulling it over.