No matter what happens in the upcoming federal election, Yorkton-Melville is sending a new Member of Parliament to Ottawa. Long-time MP Garry Breitkreuz has retired after 22 years in office, and has celebrated the end of his time representing this constituency.
It was an evening 鈥渇ull of emotions,鈥� Breitkreuz says, as he looked back on a political career that went through two decades and three party banners.
鈥淭o be honoured by all of the people who came from so far away to be here, it鈥檚 humbling to be recognized like this.鈥�
Breitkreuz is best known for his opposition to the long gun registry, which was reflected in the speeches of the different friends, colleagues and family members who took to the stage to speak about his years in office. He is happy to be known as the 鈥済un guy,鈥� as he considers the eventual dismantling of the long gun registry to be his greatest achievement.
鈥淚t was a seventeen year battle. I was told many times to just give it up, you鈥檒l never be able to repeal government legislation, it鈥檒l never happen. Finally three years ago it did happen, and it鈥檚 all because of the great people I鈥檝e been working with... It was payday.鈥�
As it is the first time in two decades that he is not at the center of a campaign, Breitkreuz admits that he鈥檚 a bit uncomfortable on the sidelines.
鈥淓ven now I鈥檓 watching things on television and I鈥檓 a little upset when things aren鈥檛 told the way they really are.鈥�
The keynote speaker was Andrew Scheer, Speaker of the House and MP for Regina-Qu鈥檃ppelle. Breitkreuz says it鈥檚 an honour to have the youngest Speaker of the House in history to speak at his retirement, and says that they鈥檝e been connected for years.
鈥淲e have the distinction of being the only two MPs who are sitting who have defeated the same MP, Lorne Nystrom... We鈥檙e very close, I worked on his campaign, and he got a position higher than mine in the house as speaker so I have to show respect in that regard, but we are very close.鈥�
The next Conservative candidate for the riding is Cathay Wagantall. Breitkreuz is impressed with her as a candidate and believes she was the right choice for the party.
鈥淪he is going to be an excellent candidate. She鈥檚 got the life experience, she鈥檚 mature, she has a family, she understands the issues, she鈥檚 been involved in politics for quite some time and she鈥檚 a very hard worker. In Edmonton when she was supporting their candidate she baked a thousand pies, that鈥檚 the kind of person she is.鈥�
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