Ed Stelmach has appointed a law student to carry the Progressive Conservative banner in the riding of Calgary-Montrose following a nasty dispute between the party and the local constituency association.
Manmeet Bhullar, 27, who said the party asked him to run Monday night, is finishing a law degree at the University of Windsor in Ontario, but defends his experience in the northeast riding.
'I don't feel like I'm being parachuted in at all because I was born in the riding.'— Manmeet Bhullar, PC Calgary-Montrose candidate
"I don't feel like I'm being parachuted in at all because I was born in the riding," Bhullar told CBC News Tuesday.
"I know the issues of the riding. I've been working in east Calgary for 10 years now, working with young people at risk, working on issues that affect people's lives there."
Bhullar founded the Inspire Youth Development Society, which works with at-risk youth, worked on several political campaigns and is active in the Sikh community.
Bad blood between party, local organization
Local PC organizers refused to hold a nomination meeting after a prolonged legal dispute with its own party.
It began before the 2004 election when a disqualified candidate for the riding's Tory nomination sued the local association, which was left with a legal bill of almost $180,000.
They in turn sued the PC party, which refused to help local volunteers cover the legal costs. That case was rejected in the Court of Queen's Bench last month.
Hung Pham, the previous Conservative MLA in the northeast riding, recently announced he was quitting politics.
Party rejects local committee's choice
A committee from the Calgary-Montrose PC Association named a local pastor as its candidate this week. But the party quashed that choice, saying the nomination process was not followed and the candidate was not approved by the party.
Stelmach said, as Tory leader, he had to take matters into his own hands by appointing someone to run in the riding.
"Manmeet Bhullar … is just unbelievable in what he's already accomplished in his very young life," said Stelmach, who said he met Bhullar a few years ago through his family, who he called active Conservative supporters.
Related
Internal Links
Alberta Votes 2008 »
- It's 'Ed's Empire' after Alberta election sweep
- Political observers in Alberta are calling it remarkable and opposition politicians are wondering what hit them after Ed Stelmach guided his Conservative party Monday to one of its biggest majorities ever.
- Low voter turnout in Alberta election being questioned
- As Premier Ed Stelmach and Alberta Conservatives savour their sweeping election victory, some people are raising a nagging concern: why so few people bothered to vote.
- Albertans elect historic 11th straight Tory government
- Voters in Alberta stuck with tried-and-true blue, giving the Progressive Conservative party an unprecedented 11th consecutive majority government in Monday's provincial election.
- Political tide turns in Edmonton
- Alberta Progressive Conservative Leader Ed Stelmach has proven true to his word, putting the "Ed" back in Edmonton.
- Conservatives' Calgary fortress resists change
- The Progressive Conservatives' fortress in Calgary stood strong as the party took 18 of the city's 23 ridings Monday night.
Riding Profiles
More Alberta Votes Headlines »
- It's 'Ed's Empire' after Alberta election sweep
- Political observers in Alberta are calling it remarkable and opposition politicians are wondering what hit them after Ed Stelmach guided his Conservative party Monday to one of its biggest majorities ever.
- Low voter turnout in Alberta election being questioned
- As Premier Ed Stelmach and Alberta Conservatives savour their sweeping election victory, some people are raising a nagging concern: why so few people bothered to vote.
- Albertans elect historic 11th straight Tory government
- Voters in Alberta stuck with tried-and-true blue, giving the Progressive Conservative party an unprecedented 11th consecutive majority government in Monday's provincial election.
- Political tide turns in Edmonton
- Alberta Progressive Conservative Leader Ed Stelmach has proven true to his word, putting the "Ed" back in Edmonton.
- Conservatives' Calgary fortress resists change
- The Progressive Conservatives' fortress in Calgary stood strong as the party took 18 of the city's 23 ridings Monday night.
