Chey Craik, People’s Party of Canada

Personal details. Name, age, hometown

Chey Craik, 42, Moose Jaw.

Tell us about yourself

I was raised on the family farm where I now live with my wife of over 17 years with our two teenage children.

What’s a little-known fact about you?

I’m a pretty outspoken, opinionated guy. There isn’t much I don’t say that people wouldn’t already know about me. Fun fact, I haven’t been clean-shaven in nearly 24 years.

Why should voters hire you?

Voters should hire me because I will be their strong voice of reason representing our riding.

Who should we call for a reference?

Feel free to call anyone who knows me for a reference.

What is your greatest strength? What is your greatest weakness?

Strength: I’m guided by conviction and my values. Weakness: According to who?

Where do you stand on:

Gun laws? I am a strong pro-gun, pro-personal property rights candidate. I believe that the government does not have the right to take property from me that I am legally licensed, trained, and vetted to own. Laws do not influence criminals in any way, that is why they are criminals. Passing more gun laws would only negatively affect law-abiding gun owners and does nothing to impact public safety.

The need for more pipelines? Canada has a vast wealth of natural resources. Our government has an obligation to get our clean Canadian oil to tidewater and to foreign markets around the globe. The People’s Party of Canada will use section 92 (10) of the Canadian Constitution to get pipelines built and get one of our most abundant resources, oil, safely and efficiently across this great country now.

Western alienation? One of our major platforms is repairing the broken equalization formula Canada currently has. The provincial governments of B.C., Alberta, Saskatchewan, Newfoundland and Labrador as well as Ontario will not receive equalization this year despite our oil industry tanking. Factors such as the hydro power generated and sold from Quebec is not factored into the equation. Having a federal leader with real courage of conviction and western values such as Maxime Bernier will help to bring balance back to Canada as a whole and to Western Canada specifically. This will help to mend some of the angst that is brewing today.

China? What should our approach be with some of our markets blocked? Canada has a large trade imbalance with China. We need to develop a policy framework to help our exporters. As Canada’s second-largest trading partner, this relationship is key.

Are we facing a climate change crisis? Is carbon tax the answer? I don’t believe we are facing a crisis. I agree the climate is changing, it has always changed. For people to be calling for panic and to say the world is on fire is absolutely ridiculous. I’m not sure how ending home heating, not driving cars and causing irreparable harm to our economy here in Canada will have any kind of effect on the world besides some type of virtue signalling. Canada is a carbon sink. There are approximately 8,953 trees per person in Canada and over 89 million acres of agricultural land according to Stats Canada 2015, so I just can’t see how Canadians aren’t already leading the world on a path of green. This isn’t to say Canadians can’t do more, however I do not believe a government-enforced carbon tax is the solution.

It’s a day off and you can do anything you want. What would it be?

I would love to spend the day with my family. Hearing them laugh is one of my greatest joys. I would definitely go zip-lining or spend the day watersliding with them again.

Who inspires you?

My wife is an inspiration to me. She has been my partner and advocate through thick and thin. I feel like I can do anything with her by my side.

What is your hidden talent?

(No answer provided)

What do you wish you could do but can’t?

I wish I could still run around the bases without being completely out of breath.

Who are the three people, dead or alive, that you’d love to have dinner with?

I would really like to have dinner with Nikola Tesla, Jordan Peterson and Evel Knievel.

How do you take your coffee?

Black.

What’s the one album you’d take with you on a desert island? What embarrassing song do you admit to on your playlist?

An album I would definitely have to have would be The Best of Led Zeppelin. I would show/share my playlist with anyone!

What is your guilty pleasure?

Halloween candy. I can eat my fair share in October and November but then I’m good for another year. I have a clear conscience, nothing makes me feel guilty.