Area Tories pick candidate for next federal election

NEWS RELEASE

CONSERVATIVE PARTY OF CANADA

************************* Algoma-Manitoulin-Kapuskasing federal Conservatives announce candidate

ELLIOT LAKE, ON (January 14, 2011) - Algoma-Manitoulin-Kapuskasing local Conservatives met yesterday in Blind River to launch the candidacy of Thessalon resident Ray Sturgeon.

“We are very pleased that a person of Ray Sturgeon’s quality has stepped up to carry the Conservative banner for us here in Algoma-Manitoulin-Kapuskasing. His broad range of experience gained through service in the military, government, and private sector will serve the taxpayers of Algoma-Manitoulin-Kapuskasing well in the next Parliament,” said David Nicholls, Conservative Riding Association president for Algoma-Manitoulin-Kapuskasing.

Ray Sturgeon spent 24 years in the Canadian Military, retiring as a major.

He then embarked upon his next career as an executive in the federal public service where he worked for the next 16 years, retiring as the senior assistant deputy minister of defence.

He is currently the managing senior partner of a company that provides strategic advice to private industry on doing business with governments both within Canada and internationally.

Ray has a master's degree from Carleton University.

“The people of Algoma-Manitoulin-Kapuskasing deserve a government member of parliament representing Northern Ontarians. It is vitally important that the views of the taxpayers of Algoma-Manitoulin-Kapuskasing are reflected in Ottawa. I believe this is not the case with our current member of parliament. Her vote recently to maintain the wasteful long-gun registry is a clear demonstration that she is more concerned with the views of big city voters and her Toronto boss Jack Layton. I want to change that. I will be a strong voice for the people of Northern Ontario,” said candidate Ray Sturgeon.

He added: “The Conservative Party does not believe that we need an election at this time, especially with our fragile economy just beginning to recover. But if the coalition of Liberals, NDP and the Bloc bring down the government, we Conservatives will be ready to mount a strong campaign to win Algoma-Manitoulin-Kapuskasing and provide the representation its citizens deserve.”

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