Bexte prevails in CPC candidacy race

By Cal Braid
Taber Times
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

 “The nomination process in Bow River is now closed, and your Common Sense Conservative Party of Canada candidate for Bow River is David Bexte.” The announcement went up on the Bow River CPC website shortly before 3 p.m. on March 10.

 Arrowwood’s David Bexte ran against Taber’s Graham Abela, Vauxhall’s Josh Senneker, and Chestermere’s JL DeCosta for the right to be the Conservative representative for the riding. As a lifelong Albertan, farmer, and former vice-president at the largest oil field service company in the world, Bexte’s appeal earned him a chance to become an MP come the next general election.

In late February, Bexte told Southern Alberta Newspapers about his community-minded sensibility, where “everybody pitches in, everybody volunteers, and you get things done.”

 In a Feb. 20 news release, Bexte unveiled his first major policy priority: designating family farms as a Strategic National Asset to ensure they are protected from crippling taxes and federal overreach.

 Bexte outlined a three-point plan he would fight for as MP. His goal is to ensure:

-that family farms are exempted from crushing inheritance taxes that force families to sell their land instead of passing it on.

-an end to Ottawa’s overreach—no more carbon tax penalties or excessive fertilizer restrictions. 

-stronger support for young farmers to ensure the next generation can afford to stay on the land.

 Bexte said he was confident and qualified to offer insight and leadership on ag and energy issues.

 “What I bring to the role is experience and integrity. I have common views and experience with everybody that’s in the Bow River riding. I bring a passion for fairness and a passion for getting things done,” he said. “Canada has such huge potential that we’re squandering, and it has to be all hands on deck to get this going in the right direction and we can truly build a prosperous society.”

 The news came less than 24 hours after Mark Carney ran away with the vote to become the new leader of the Liberal Party. Carney will step in as the new Prime Minister and could call a general election soon. If that’s the case, Bexte will be back in the spotlight as a contender for MP in no time.