Chris Lowrey
SHAWVILLE Oct. 29, 2018
Federal Conservative candidate Dave Blackburn made stops throughout the Pontiac on Oct. 29 as part of a listening tour.
Blackburn, along with his campaign manager Ben Woodman and Conservative shadow minister for the Treasury Board, Gérard Deltell, made stops in Fort Coulonge, Campbell’s Bay and Shawville.
During his chats with Pontiac residents, Blackburn said he heard three main priorities: the economy, employment and high-speed internet.
“We want to visit all the municipalities,” Blackburn said.

“The best politician isn’t the one who speaks the best,” said Deltell. “But who listens the best.”
He also met with MRC Pontiac Warden Jane Toller to discuss local issues.
“She was able to give us a very clear picture of what she thought were the priorities for the MRC,” Blackburn said.
Blackburn said that although current Pontiac MP Will Amos announced funding for high-speed internet, residents told him they are waiting to see the impacts.
Although Blackburn is new to politics, he boasts a pretty impressive resumé.
He holds a bachelors degree in criminology, a master’s degree in social work and a PhD in social science with a specialization in the sociology of health.
This expertise led him to a 13-month stint running a CLSC in Nunavik, Que.
He also spent nine years in the Canadian Armed Forces as a medical officer who specialized in mental health services. He spent three months in Afghanistan in 2006 helping soldiers with their mental health issues. During that time, Blackburn was putting in 18-hour days.
“As a clinician, it was an incredible experience,” Blackburn said.
Blackburn said most of his time was spent with soldiers experiencing acute stress reactions.
“It’s mostly young guys and it’s their first time in action,” Blackburn said. “They have to deal with that and they’re just not prepared.”
He followed up his time in Afghanistan by completing his PhD in Germany from 2007-2011.
After his time in Germany, Blackburn came home where he was stationed in Ottawa at the Canadian Forces health services headquarters. There, he spearheaded a new mental health training program.
Blackburn, one of just 40 uniformed members who work in the mental health field for the Canadian Forces, said he learned a lot from the experience.
Blackburn was released voluntarily in June of 2014 and is currently on sabbatical from his job as a professor at the University of Quebec Outaouais campus specializing in mental health.
He said one of the things he misses most from his teaching job is the direct contact with his students, which gives him unique insight into the lives of young people.
“As a university professor, I’m in a position to listen to what they have to say,” Blackburn said.
He pointed to the hardships faced by many students today.
“A lot of young people at university have performance anxiety,” he said. “Kids shouldn’t be this stressed at such a young age.”
Despite the fact that Blackburn currently has three research projects on the go, he’s made sure to find time to get out in the community.
“You need to be very good with time management,” Blackburn said.
Blackburn hopes that if he’s elected, he’ll get a chance to have a part in reforming Veterans Affairs.
“At a national level, I want to work for vets and their families,” Blackburn said. “I can’t just stay in my university office while Justin Trudeau gives $10.5 million to Omar Khadr while our vets suffer.”