Seeking federal Conservative leadership, Deepak Obhrai pushes inclusion and positivity

Calgary MP Deepak Obhrai hopes his experience, along with his message of inclusion and forward-thinking, will lead to him becoming the next leader of the federal Conservatives.

The dean of the Conservative caucus has held the Calgary-Forest Lawn riding since 1997 and says in the last election, the party wasn’t looking forward.

“We were talking about our achievements of the past,” he said. “Under Harper, we had great achievements, but we could not connect to the people, because we could not talk about what we were going to do for the future.”

Obhrai has not been afraid of breaking with party lines, including on Bill C-24 and an increase in membership fees, warning they could lead to the party becoming elitist.

“I believe the Conservative Party with its core principles of fiscal responsibility, accountable government and a balanced approach is attractive to everyone,” he said. “However, when we start alienating others with other issues, we start losing support.”

Citing the concern some may have about a western politician from the Harper era seeking the position, Obhrai says we can’t lose sight of the bigger picture.

“I’m a very proud Calgarian. I’m a very proud Albertan. But I have worked as a Canadian all the time that I was in the Parliament,” he said.

He compliments his competitors, including Ontario MPs Tony Clement, Kellie Leitch and Michael Chong, as well as Quebec MP Maxime Bernier, and says he hopes there won’t be any negative campaigning.

“If you tend to go in that direction, yes you can have a very divisive party,” he said. “I myself at the time when the other leadership races were running, felt that division rising up.”

“If we are not careful, this leadership race can damage the party; therefore, the onus is on us who are candidates to ensure that that doesn’t happen.”

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