McDonald acclaimed

Al McDonald has been acclaimed as the Conservative Party candidate for the Nipissing-Timiskaming federal riding.

The Nipissing-Timiskaming Conservative Association announced that the candidate nomination deadline had passed at 5 p.m. today with no other names being submitted.

McDonald was acclaimed at 5:01 p.m. by the local candidate nomination committee, according to rules set out by the Conservative party, said Gordan Rennie, president of the association.

“Excitement has continued to build since Al first announced he was seeking the nomination,” Rennie said.

“I know that local party members from across the riding and the public at large have been encouraging Al to run. Through his years of community service and as a former North Bay city councillor and MPP Al has earned the reputation of being a hard worker who speaks for his constituents, and conducts himself with integrity.”

Rennie says McDonald’s acclamation shows local conservatives are united and focused on the job ahead.

“Stephen Harper’s first ballot selection as leader demonstrated that our party is united nationally, and Al McDonald’s selection as our Conservative candidate shows that local conservatives are ready to offer Nipissing-Timiskaming voters a real choice in this election,” Rennie said.

McDonald, who announced his campaign last Thursday at the North Bay General Hospital, said he plans to run on his strong local record and experience as deputy mayor and MPP for Nipissing.

“I am honoured to be entrusted with the important job of candidate for the new Conservative Party in Nipissing-Timiskaming. Since my announcement I have continued to meet with people in both the northern and southern parts of the riding and I am very optimistic that we can carry the momentum of the nomination process into the election,” said McDonald. “We have had a busy week and the response I have received has been truly humbling. We are excited, we are enthusiastic, and we are ready to go.”

The Thursday, May 20, 2004, 7 pm nomination meeting scheduled for the Davedi Club in North Bay will still go ahead.

All party members and the general public are welcome to attend.

“This will be an excellent opportunity to rally the troops and showcase what Al and the new Conservative Party have to offer the people of Nipissing-Timiskaming”, Rennie said.