First-time candidate Tyler Nesbitt hopes to improve on the second place finish of the 2011 candidate's 34.5 per cent share of the vote with a platform focused on security and the economy.
"The important issues are the same as across the country, which are the economy and security," said Nesbitt.
Nesbitt touted the Conservative platform focusing on security and the economy. A man in Fort St. John being charged with promoting terrorism was his example of why Conservative measures like Bill C-51 are needed.
“We’re over there to protect religious minorities and vulnerable people, but also to make sure it doesn’t come back here,” said Nesbitt, who contrasted his position with the federal NDP's as he saw it.
"Thomas Mulcair wants to end the fight against ISIS, opposes Canadian help to the Ukraine against Russian aggression. I think it's a dangerous ideology-driven foreign policy not set on common sense."
On the economy, Nesbitt said any talk of recession needs to point out that most decline is in the resource sector. He also wants to see LNG developments to go through, which he sees as a positive for climate change in replacing coal plants in Asia.
"I don't make any apologies about saying bringing in an LNG industry to the Northwest would be a great thing for us here. As someone born and raised in Prince Rupert I kind of understand that this is the opportunity of a lifetime we've been waiting for. We're kind of on the cusp right now of a potential period of significant economic opportunity that is all about keeping families here," said Nesbitt.
The Conservative candidate said his opponent, incumbent NDP candidate Nathan Cullen, may say one thing while his party says another.
“We don’t want to throw away this enormous opportunity right on our doorstep. It doesn’t matter if Nathan tries to triangulate his position around what the majority of people want here, which is to responsibly develop LNG here. The NDP is just flat out opposed to those things."
With the economy in general, Nesbitt said the Conservative government has put Canada on the right track since first elected in 2006.
"Most people can appreciate that we've done well out of the recession [of 2008/09], best job creation record, strongest income growth in the middle class, richest middle class in the world -- passed the United States under a Conservative government's leadership. Now's not the time to get off the right track and then go to a high tax and spend plan and nix LNG up here," said Nesbitt.