Al Jurgens has put his name forward for federal Conservative party nomination in the Desnethe-Missinippi-Churchill River riding.
The Prince Albert-based candidate, who has run for nomination twice for the SaskParty and once for the federal Conservative party began his campaign in fall 2017.
“As a Conservative candidate, I will bring broad based experiences that include agriculture, mining, businesses ownership in forestry…and working for, with, and employing First Nations,” said Jurgens, who has been involved in the natural resource sector for the last 25 years.
Jurgens also has previous experience with roles on school board, recreation board, livestock board, Prince Albert Parkland Health Board and Saskatchewan Forest Association Board.
Desnethe-Missinippi-Churchill River is the second largest federal riding in the country, encompassing more than 304,000 square kilometres in the northern half of Saskatchewan. Of its 70,891 constituents, 49,840 identify as aboriginal, according to the 2016 census.
Jurgens said that the challenges that come with a large riding such as Desnethe-Missinippi-Churchill River riding can be met through open communication with community leaders through phone, e-mail, social media and personal visits to communities in all regions of the riding.
“Listening and communication are strong abilities of mine,” said Jurgens, adding an open door policy through strategically placed MP offices is important.
Jurgens said that since his campaign launched last fall, he has visited communities along Highway 155 to La Loche, lakeland country, Highway 2 to La Ronge and corridors from Meadow Lake to Candle Lake.
“There are many more communities that I will be getting to over the next short while.”
The Desnethe-Missinippi-Churchill River riding is currently represented by NDP MP Georgina Jolibois, who ousted two-term Conservative MP Rob Clarke in 2015.
More details on the nomination race will be published as they become available.
