April 6, 2011
Gallant calls for
"clean campaign"
Cheryl Gallant says she is proud to
be representing the Conservative Party of Canada in the riding of
Renfrew-Nipissing-Pembroke in what will be her fifth election campaign.
Gallant issued her first statement on the federal election called for
May 2 early last week.
“While I am disappointed the opposition coalition forced this
unnecessary election, I am ready to share our plans to keep taxes low,
create new jobs, and support our seniors and caregivers,” she said.
“I wish to thank the good people of Renfrew-Nipissing-Pembroke for the
overwhelming vote of confidence they have given me in the last four
elections.
“I never take that support for granted. I will be working just as hard
in this election as I did back in 2000 when voters first gave me the
privilege of serving as their Member of Parliament in Ottawa.”
Gallant won the last election in October 2008 by an overwhelming
majority.
Gallant received 28,908 votes, or more than 60 per cent of the ballots
cast, while Liberal candidate Carole Devine was in a distant second
place with 9,737.
“It is people who make the difference. The support of the folks back
home is what makes serving as their MP such a pleasure,” Gallant said.
“To me, election campaigns are an opportunity to personally say thank
you!
“I look forward to an exciting, clean, local campaign!”
Gallant opened her main campaign office in Pembroke last Thursday, and
offices in Renfrew and Arnprior on Monday afternoon.
Apology
While Gallant appealed for a “clean” campaign, she was already involved
in a minor controversy by the end of her first week.
The Toronto Star's “Politics Page” blog reported Friday that Gallant
issued a “late night Twitter apology” for a comment she made earlier in
the week.
According to the Star blog, Gallant posted the following, addressed to
Liberal leader Michael Ignatieff, at 11:24 pm Thursday:
“Sorry about remark on day 1. No place in debate about ideas and
values.”
The apology was in reference to a comment she posted on Twitter
following the previous weekend's Renfrew Home Show, changing
Ignatieff's name to resemble that of Libyan dictator Moammar Gaddafi.
“Wilmer Verch had super efficient wood furnaces @ Renfrew Home Show. No
carbon tax please, Igaffi!”
Local Liberal candidate Christine Tabbert said she takes “no joy in the
negative attention” that Gallant brings to this riding.
“It is very unfortunate that the riding, and by extension the people in
it, are portrayed in such a bad light. We deserve better.”
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