Steven Trahan announced today he will be running for the Federal Conservative candidacy for the Nipissing-Timiskaming district. He is the second to announce, as Cassidy Villeneuve threw her hat in the ring in November.
See: Villeneuve running for local Conservative nomination
“I’m putting my foot forward again for this upcoming election and I’m hopeful that people will come out and vote for my nomination,” Trahan said. Indeed, Trahan ran as a Conservative in the 2021 federal election but lost to Anthony Rota.
However, it was a close race. Trahan came in second by a margin of about 3,000 votes. Many speculated at the time that if the People’s Party (PPC) didn’t have such a strong showing – with 3,500 votes – Trahan may have been sent to Ottawa. Some thought that split the conservative votes.
See: All polls reported. Rota scores 2,961 vote victory
This new race may be some time off or may come this year, but Trahan is urging people to get a party membership, which will allow them to vote for their next Conservative candidate.
“It’s vital that if anybody wants to be a member of the Conservative Party to purchase their membership which will enable people to vote for their candidates” for the position.
Time is running out for memberships, as the deadline is today at 5 p.m.
Trahan is an officer with the North Bay Police with 23 years of experience. He is also serving his second term as an East Ferris municipal councillor.
“People know that I’m boots on the ground,” Trahan said, “I know what our constituents need in the district. I know the issues because I’ve worked in our community and people trust me.”
He mentioned the current Liberal government has raised many concerns, and he wholeheartedly agrees with the Conservative line of removing the Carbon Tax. He wants to lighten the tax load “to help families struggling to buy groceries and pay their bills.”
Pocketbook issues will play a large part in the next election, and Trahan assured that he is indeed a fiscal conservative, concerned with the bottom line.
However, he also plans to highlight issues around “the housing crisis, as there’s a lot of work to be done” and “the Liberals have been dragging their feet in this district,” he added.
Trahan also plans to champion public safety, and the right of all people to feel safe within their community. “Every group should be able to feel safe in our district,” he noted. “Everybody has got to get together, we’re not here to leave people behind.”
The next election is set for October 2025, but may occur sooner. “We’re going to be ready,” Trahan said.
To purchase a Conservative membership for $15, visit the party’s site. Only members can vote for their choice of who will become the next Conservative candidate for MP.
David Briggs is a Local Journalism Initiative reporter who works out of BayToday, a publication of Village Media. The Local Journalism Initiative is funded by the Government of Canada.
