MIKE ATHEY
PONTIAC Oct. 27, 2020
The Conservative Party of Canada will be seeking a new candidate to run in the Pontiac riding as their former representative stepped down on Oct. 27.
Dave Blackburn released a Facebook post stating he did not intend to put his name forward “in view of a possible election.”
Blackburn first ran for the Conservatives during the 2019 election. He said he went to . . .
every corner of the riding and many he visited more than once.
“I went everywhere,” he said.
His decision not to run again came after talking with friends, family and consultations with the party’s new Quebec Lieutenant Richard Martel. Though he may run again for some office in the future, he wanted to wait until the situation was more favourable to victory.
“I’m not ready to put out the energy to finish second a second time,” said Blackburn. “Maybe another person can go there with fresh eyes and a new strategy and try to do it.”
Blackburn currently works as an associate professor and researcher at the Université du Québec en Outaouais where his research focuses on the mental health of military personnel and their families. He is also a former Canadian Armed forces member.
He said he there was no choice but to run for the Conservative party.
“The Conservative party is the party to take care of the military and veterans,” said Blackburn. “The Liberals in the last five years have had five different veteran ministers and no progress.”
Blackburn came in second during the 2019 election to Liberal candidate Will Amos with roughly 17 per cent of the vote compared to Amos’ 49.
