The Green Party of Canada has a candidate in the Fort McMurray-Cold Lake riding after Brian Deheer put his name forward.
It was party leader Elizabeth May who caught Deheer’s attention during candidate debates that prompted him to become involved.
“I made a donation, and I thought, ‘surely I can do more than this.’ I started contacting people in the party, and then I started volunteering,” he recalled.
This isn’t Deheer’s first time running as a Green Party candidate. He’s been a candidate previously in three provincial and three federal elections.
“At first, it was quite intimidating. I had never thought of doing that. I thought I would volunteer, and be in the background,” he said.
Before Deheer stepped into the role, the party only had what he described as a “paper candidate.”
“His name was on the ballot, but he didn’t do any campaigning, he didn’t put up any signs, and he didn’t attend any of the candidates forums. When the next election came around, which was a bi-election, people in the party approached me and they said, ‘Brian, would you be willing to let your name stand?’” he said, adding the previous member wasn’t interested in running again, and the party was in need of someone to represent them.
Ultimately, Deheer put his name forward to ensure residents in the Fort McMurray-Cold Lake riding have the option to cast their vote for the Green Party.
Deheer has lived in Lac La Biche for the past 27 years. Born and raised in Vancouver, BC, he moved around Canada before attending the University of Calgary to study urban planning. He described himself as a musician, who makes a living offering lessons and working with a school in Wandering River.
A top priority for Deheer in the upcoming election is reconciliation with indigenous peoples, along with sustainable development.
While he sees the industry moving away from the oil sands, he stressed that the Green Party isn’t against the oil and gas industry.
“The sector has done lots of things for Canada. It’s enabled us to have a very high standard of living, and it’s enabled us to afford lots of services and infrastructure. It’s also had negative impacts, and I think that they often get overlooked… I think those are very important, and I feel that it’s important that we don’t overlook those,” he detailed. “But, I also think that there’s a transition that has already started (toward sustainable development)… The shift away from fossil fuels and toward renewable energy, I think that’s a very important step in addressing the climate situation. I also think if we’re a more diversified economy, and more diversified energy sources that put us in a much better footing as a province and as a country.”
The emphasis the Green Party places on respect was an aspect that attracted Deheer to join.
“I see diversity in the community where I live in Lac La Biche, in terms of ethnic and cultural diversity, and various groups that live here. Lac La Biche has often been described as a mini United Nations for some of the different varieties of cultural heritage and some of the different varieties of backgrounds here,” he explained. “I also see it in the arts community. Lac La Biche is quite well-known for being rich in the musical community… As a musician, that’s something that I have appreciation for, and not just for the music, but all of the arts.”
Running against Deheer for MP of the Fort McMurray-Cold Lake riding is People’s Party of Canada candidate Matthew Barrett, incumbent David Yurdiga of the Conservative Party of Canada, Liberal Party of Canada member Maggie Farrington, and New Democratic Party candidate Matthew Gilks.
