Corey Tochor, Conservative Party of Canada

Personal details. Name, age, hometown

Corey James Tochor, 42, Esterhazy.

Tell us about yourself

I was born and raised in Esterhazy, Saskatchewan. I moved to Saskatoon to study at the University of Saskatchewan. I graduated with a bachelor’s degree in commerce with a major in finance from the Edward School of Business. After completing my degree, I embarked on a career in sales, e-learning consulting and pharmaceuticals. I subsequently started my own company, which provided electronic messaging in health facilities across the province.

In 2011, I was elected to the Legislative Assembly of Saskatchewan in a Brad Wall-led government, where I served as Deputy Chair of Committees, Deputy Whip and was later Deputy House Leader. I was re-elected in 2016, where I gained the trust of my colleagues and was elected Speaker of the Legislature.

I currently reside in Saskatoon with my wife Danielle and two young sons, Jacob and James.

What’s a little-known fact about you?

I am the second-youngest Speaker in the history of the Legislative Assembly of Saskatchewan.

Why should voters hire you?

Voters in Saskatoon-University should hire me as their Member of Parliament because I am principled in my beliefs and values. I believe the best way for our country to thrive is with a Conservative government. A Conservative government will lower your taxes, decrease the cost of living and ensure you get ahead. As Speaker in the Legislative Assembly of Saskatchewan, I demonstrated my ability to find consensus. I have eight years of parliamentary experience and offer the voters of Saskatoon-University a proven track record of delivering for Saskatoon.

Who should we call for a reference?

Brad Wall.

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

My greatest strength is my ability to listen. My greatest weakness is overanalyzing a problem.

Where do you stand on:

Gun laws? Whenever Liberals talk about gun violence, they fail to address the issue and end up going after law-abiding firearms owners. This was made crystal clear with the Liberal backdoor gun registry Bill C-71. The vast majority of firearms owners respect Canada’s gun laws. It’s criminals who do not.

A Conservative government will put criminals who use guns behind bars for a long time. We will also beef up our border enforcement to stop guns from being smuggled into Canada.

A Conservative government will help fund new anti-gang task forces, provide funding to smaller police departments to purchase new technology to fight crime, and we will fund programs to stop young people from joining gangs.

The need for more pipelines? We need to build pipelines in order to get our energy to tidewater, as thousand of Canadians and their families, particularly those here in Saskatchewan, depend on the energy sector to provide a living.

A Conservative government led by Andrew Scheer has a six-point plan:

• Cancel the Carbon Tax.
• Repeal Bill C-69, the No-More Pipelines Bill.
• End the ban on shipping traffic in British Columbia.
• Establish clear time lines and get Indigenous consultations right up front.
• Ban foreign-funded advocacy groups from disrupting our approvals process.
• Assert federal jurisdiction when necessary.

Western alienation? Justin Trudeau’s failed and divisive policies have alienated Canadians across the country and left many regions frustrated with their place in Confederation. People in Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba have suffered significant economic hardships as result of Justin Trudeau’s failed approach to our energy sector, the implementation of the carbon tax, as well as his inability to promote Canada aboard to ensure market access.

If Justin Trudeau is re-elected as prime minister, and continues to implement failed policies that divide Canadians, alienation will continue to grow not only across Canada, but particularly in the west.

China? What should our approach be with some of our markets blocked? Justin Trudeau has failed to take decisive action when comes to Canadian-China relations. Two Canadians are currently unlawfully imprisoned in China and we have also lost market access in China for many of our agricultural products. If Justin Trudeau is not willing to stand up to China under these circumstances he never will.

A Conservative government led by Andrew Scheer will reset Canadian-China relations and engage China in a constructive manner that will advance our interest and values.

With respect to other markets, our previous Conservative government took market access very seriously. We signed 53 trade deals in less than 10 years in office. We also created the Market Access Secretariat, which focused on gaining expanded access for our farmers to foreign markets. An Andrew Scheer government would continue this proud legacy, which will include taking a more aggressive approach to removing non-tariff trade barriers.

Are we facing a climate change crisis? Is carbon tax the answer? All Canadians should be concerned about climate change and the kind of planet we will leave to future generation. That said, we are not going to solve climate change through Justin Trudeau’s failed carbon tax, which only makes everything more expensive for Canadian families and small businesses.

Our plan for the environment will be guided by three principles:

• green technology, not taxes;
• greener and cleaner natural environment; and
• taking the climate change fight global.

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

BBQ and watching the Roughriders with family and friends.

Who inspires you?

Danielle Tochor, my wife.

What is your hidden talent?

Downhill ski instructor.

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

I wish I could please everyone. But I know I cannot.

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

John Diefenbaker, Jesus, Ronald Reagan.

How do you take your coffee?

By the gallon.

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

AC/DC, Back in Black. What Does A Fox Say (My kids love it!).

What is your guilty pleasure?

Chips and dill pickle dip.

What is the last book you read?

Lincoln by David Herbert Donald and five-minute hockey stories.

What is your favourite TV show? What are you binge watching?

Seinfeld. Paw Patrol.

What is your all-time favourite movie?

Braveheart.