A former Alberta cabinet minister who lost his seat in the last election has set his sights on a new position - president of the Progressive Conservative party.

Ray Danyluk is running against two other candidates, Calgary businessman Jim McCormick and Lac Saint Anne county councillor Lorne Olsvik, in an election that will be held at the party’s convention this fall.

“I very much believe, being an MLA and being a cabinet minister, we need to work closer together as a government with the party,” he said.

“And the party needs to work closer together with government supporting what government does.”

Danyluk was first elected as MLA for Lac La Biche-St. Paul in 2001 and was most recently the transportation minister in the Redford government before losing his seat

He lost his seat to the Wildrose in the spring election.

Danyluk says he could help bridge the gap between party members and elected officials.

“If we call ourselves a grassroots party, if we call ourselves a party that listens to people, I think we need to work together with government and understand the policies of government and bring forward those policies to the people of Alberta.”

The party’s convention will be held November 9 and 10 in Calgary.