Billy Cann to seek federal Conservative nomination in Cardigan
A former provincial NDP candidate intends to seek the federal Conservative nomination in the eastern P.E.I. riding of Cardigan.
Billy Cann announced his decision on Sunday.
Cann ran for the Liberals in Cardigan in the 2007 federal election before running provincially in 2011 as the leader of the Island Party, which was not a registered political party for that race. He became a member of the provincial NDP in 2012 and ran federally for that party in Cardigan in 2015.
"I believe the policies of the Liberal government has harmed the standard of living of all Canadians, and we simply cannot afford another four years of damaging Liberal policies," Cann was quoted as saying in a news release on Sunday.
He said Islanders have for years sent four Liberal members of Parliament to Ottawa, but accused those MPs of being "quiet on Islanders' needs" once they get there.
"I will be that voice for Cardigan residents in Ottawa," Cann said in the news release.
James Aylward, a former P.E.I. cabinet minister and former leader of the Island's Official Opposition, is also seeking the federal Conservative nomination for Cardigan. Aylward announced his intention on May 9.
Liberal Lawrence MacAulay has represented the Cardigan riding since 1988.
A federal election must be held by October 2025.