MP: Conservatives tell members to be ready in 2007.

By Roger Knoxblack pressJan 12 2007 Salmon Arms Observor

Not even through a full year in office, Okanagan Shuswap Conservative MP Colin Mayes has faced a challenge from within his riding, and is being told to be “election-ready” in 2007. The former Salmon Arm mayor was challenged for the riding’s representation by a Vernon businessman over the summer, a challenge Mayes easily won. But the task to continue being the party’s representative in the riding took its toll. “It was a rocky road in the constituency,” said Mayes of the challenge for party representation from Dean Skoreyko. “My plan was to get to know more people in the Okanagan part of the riding. I know a lot of people in the Shuswap, where I’m from, I wanted to attend the events, wanted to get to know all the names, but the nomination took a lot of time away from that.”

After serving three terms as mayor of Salmon Arm, Mayes had bigger political ambitions.
With Darrel Stinson not seeking re-election as MP for health reasons, Mayes contested the seat as the Conservative representative, winning the riding handily. Since then, Mayes, who was involved in 2006 in a lawsuit with a mayoralty candidate over a letter Mayes wrote to the Lakeshore News (the issue was settled out of court), has undergone a learning curve in his political career. “It’s interesting, a year ago at this time we were in an election campaign, and now, as government, it’s nice to see our platform of change for Canadians being implemented,” said Mayes.

“It’s been quite rewarding for me. There was a lot of comprehensive material to learn and it’s nice to see that most things we said we’d do, we’ve done.” Among those platform promises the Conservatives stuck to since coming into power were lowering taxes and, one of particular interest to Mayes, was the federal accountability act. “I sat in the Senate and watched that act get Royal Assent,” said Mayes. “We really need to change the accountability of elected representatives and bureaucrats, and keep tabs on taxpayers’ money.” Mayes also praised his government for coming down on crime. “We dealt with 12 bills on things from street racing to a bill on raising the age of consent from 14 to 16,” said Mayes.

On a personal level, Mayes felt he would be intimidated when he first arrived in Ottawa, but thinks he has fit in quite well. “I’ve spoken to a number of ministers about issues related to the riding,” said Mayes. “I’m blessed to be on the government side. We haven’t engaged that in this riding in some time.” Looking ahead to the new year, Mayes has been told by party officials to be ready for an election call, though he is hoping that won’t happen. Among the things Mayes is looking forward to in Ottawa next year are changes to the way the Senate is put together, hoping there will be more input from citizens and a limiting of the number of years a person can serve on the Senate.

“I think more tax relief in the new year could be a good thing,” he said. “There’s rumours about lowering the GST another one per cent.” Mayes also wants to see healthier Canadians. He stated the Conservatives have recently prepared a list of 200 chemicals that they plan to ban that contribute to a poor quality of life for Canadians. Locally in 2007, Mayes plans to spend more time holding town-hall-style meetings in the constituency as a way to connect to the residents and to get to know them better. He’s also focused on pushing forward with the completion of the Highway 97A corridor between Spallumcheen and Armstrong.