THE BATTLEFORDS - The federal New Democrats in Battlefords-Lloydminster have confirmed their candidate in Battlefords-Lloydminster.
He is Erik Hansen, who is born and raised in Unity. Up to 2020 he had worked at Moody's Equipment, the local New Holland Ag Dealer, and has experience in the heavy equipment industry. The married father of two boys has interests that include fishing and nature and he has been active on the Electoral District executive for the NDP in the riding.
The Battlefords-Lloydminster NDP announced Hansen's candidacy on their Facebook page by describing Hansen as a "standup, working class, family man who cares about his community and his country - the choice in Battlefords-Lloydminster could not be more clear."
In a letter posted on the Facebook, Hansen stated that he believes federal and provincial governments should "work cooperatively to improve the lives of all citizens. That includes keeping up with improvements and the provision of public healthcare, education, infrastructure renewal, responsible environmental stewardship, true indigenous self-determination, the social welfare of marginalized people, and fair and equitable tax reform."
That brings to four the number of announced candidates running in the riding in the upcoming federal election on Sept. 20. The others nominated are incumbent Conservative MP Rosemarie Falk, Larry Ingram of the Liberals, and Ken Rutherford of the Maverick Party. As of Tuesday, neither the Green Party or the People's Party have candidates announced as of yet.
In the previous federal election in 2019, the NDP ran second to the Conservatives in Battlefords-Lloydminster, with Falk winning with 78 percent of the vote.
