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Stubbs announces candidacy for Conservative nomination

Barely a week after Westlock-St.
Shannon Stubbs, pictured with her fiancee Wildrose MLA Shayne Saskiw, is the first to officially announce her nomination candidacy for the Lakeland Conservative riding.
Shannon Stubbs, pictured with her fiancee Wildrose MLA Shayne Saskiw, is the first to officially announce her nomination candidacy for the Lakeland Conservative riding.

Barely a week after Westlock-St. Paul MP Brian Storseth announced he would not be running in the 2015 federal election, at least one person has stepped forward to announce her nomination candidacy for the Conservative Party of Canada in the Lakeland riding.

On Wednesday afternoon, Shannon Stubbs, who was born and raised on a family farm near Chipman, and who is engaged to current Wildrose MLA for the Lac La Biche-St. Paul-Two Hills riding, Shayne Saskiw, announced her candidacy.

In an interview with the Journal last week, Stubbs says the decision to put her name forward as a candidate for the Conservative nomination was not something she took lightly.

Stubbs had been sitting on the constituency association already, and when Storseth made the decision to not run in the next election, “he asked me to consider running for it,&” she says.

“We gave it great thought . . . and decided to go for it.&”

Stubbs' resume includes working for private, not for profit, political and public groups, at both the provincial and federal levels. She has a combined B.A. in Political Science and English from the University of Alberta and interned at Preston Manning's Ottawa office in research and communications.

Her experience with federal politics also includes working in the constituency office for former Beaver River and Edmonton North MP Deborah Grey. Provincially, Stubbs has worked for the Departments of Energy and Economic Development.

Most recently, Stubbs has held positions with Alberta's Wildrose Party, as the senior advisor and chief of staff to the leader between 2010 and 2012, and as director of legislative affairs for the official opposition house leader between 2012 and 2014.

Stubbs says she believe it's the combination of her experience that makes her a worthwhile candidate for the Lakeland riding. She adds she is a strong supporter of the Conservative government and what the party has done for Canada, but believes any party benefits from new people and new voices.

Born and raised in the Lakeland riding, Stubbs says she is familiar with the area, especially the Lamont/Vegreville/St. Paul areas. Stubbs also has some background in working in the oil and gas sector, and says those things all “position me uniquely to have a good understanding of the priorities and issues that are important to the people in Lakeland.&”

Stubbs has already started visiting communities in the area to meet people and gain an understanding of what people consider important issues.

“I hear lots from community members about quality of life,&” she says, adding, she has also heard concerns about property rights and says that she will work toward entrenching property rights into the federal constitution.

“I'm of the belief that when Alberta does well, so does the rest of the country,&” says Stubbs, when speaking of the province. She adds that Alberta isn't just a key to the country's economy, but it is the economic engine of Canada.

When speaking of the Temporary Foreign Worker Program, Stubbs says she is aware of the challenges facing Alberta businesses and believes the Conservative government is also aware of those challenges. She looks forward to hearing from people to find out what is working, and what needs to be improved.

Stubb's announcement last week came via email, and included a list of endorsements, with a number of area politicians offering their support for Stubb.

The list of endorsements include the likes of Grey, Wildrose leader Danielle Smith, former MP for Athabasca and Westlock-St. Paul Dave Chatters, MP for Fort McMurray-Athabasca David Yurdiga, along with politicians from Athabasca County, Smoky Lake County, MD of Bonnyville, Minburn County, Two Hills, Lloydminster, and Vermilion, among others.

“As the former Alberta Agriculture Minister as well as MLA and mayor of Bonnyville, I am supporting Shannon Stubbs for the Conservative Party of Canada nomination in Lakeland,&” said Ernie Isley, who served as a MLA and a minister with the province, and later as mayor of the Town of Bonnyville, in the numerous endorsements included in the media package.

“She has a charming, bubbly personality, and I am confident she is the best candidate to represent the interests of our communities, our families, and our farmers,&” said Isley.

“Shannon is a hard worker, diligent, passionate and principled and I know she will be a strong and independent advocate,&” said Grey.

Included in the list of endorsements was also Town of St. Paul Coun. Judy Bogdan.

“I have been floored and totally grateful and amazed by the very swift and supportive responses,&” says Stubbs, adding, “It has been really heart-warming.&”

A definite timeline has yet to be set for when the Lakeland Conservative Association will choose its candidate. A date should be known once the Conservative Party officially opens the Lakeland nomination.

Note: Grey's endorsement of Stubbs was from before 2012.


Janice Huser

About the Author: Janice Huser

Janice Huser has been with the St. Paul Journal since 2006. She is a graduate of the SAIT print media journalism program, is originally from St. Paul and has a passion for photography.
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