Newly-elected Ponoka-Didsbury Conservative MP Blaine Calkins says he hopes to work closely with local elected officials and others to promote and support agriculture and oil and gas in the district.
Calkins, 56, defeated United Party of Canada’s Grant Abraham, People’s Party of Canada’s Larry Gratton, New Democratic Party of Canada’s Logan Hooley, and non-affiliated candidate Zarnab Zafar to win the election on April 28.
The Ponoka-Didsbury riding includes Innisfail, Olds, Didsbury, Bowden and portions of Mountain View and Red Deer counties along with other municipalities.
Calkins was first elected to Parliament in 2006, and re-elected in 2008, 2011, 2015, 2019, 2021, and now 2025.
Shortly after the April 28 election, Calkins met in Red Deer with many of the region’s mayors, councillors and reeves.
“I know many of them and I am getting to know the mayors and councils in Olds, Didsbury, Innisfail and Bowden a little bit more as time goes on,” Calkins told the Albertan.
“The people in Ponoka and Lacombe and Sylvan Lake, they all know me very well because I’ve been their MP for 10 to 20 years depending on where you live. I’m very excited to get to know the people and learn more about the amazing people who live in our province and the amazing things that they do.
“I’m going to have a lot of work ahead of me but I’m going to enjoy getting to know the folks in the new part of the riding.”
Promoting and supporting the region’s agriculture and oil and gas industry will be a priority for him going forward, he said.
“I grew up on a cow-calf operation in Lacombe County, so technically I can say I’m a farm boy,” he said. “So that is near and dear to my heart. I’ve also worked in the oil and gas sector. I think I’m well-rounded to do the job.
“I had 20 years of life experience in the private sector and in the public sector before I got involved in politics, and that experience helps me to this day.”
Regarding Premier Danielle Smith’s call for the new federal government to respect Alberta, Calkins said, “She is absolutely right to point out the irritants that Alberta has had over the last decade under the leadership of Justin Trudeau and the Liberal Party.
“I believe Mr. Carney has a very short window to not only have the right words to say, but through actions prove to Albertans and prove to western Canadians that we are equal and valued members of this confederation.
“I think those signals and those decisions need to come sooner rather than later, because there is an ever-growing sentiment of frustration and alienation in western Canada.”
Calkins was asked if he believes being on the opposition benches will affect what he can do for the Ponoka-Didsbury riding and its residents.
“If you are an effective opposition you can do many things,” he said. “We were a very effective opposition, we changed the discourse in the country on the carbon tax and on a number of other things.
“We will continue to fight for taxpayers and fight for common sense. We will have to redouble our efforts in the next number of years, however many it happens to be, until the next federal election.”
Asked if he is looking for a shadow critic position in the new Parliament, he said, “I will serve at the pleasure of my leader. I was honoured to be the shadow minister for hunting, fishing and conservation for the last couple of years. If (the leader) has some other role for me, I would gladly do it to the best of my abilities.”
Would he consider seeking the leadership of the Conservative Party of Canada should Pierre Poilievre decide to step down?
“Mr. Poilievre is going to need some time to decide what he wants to do and he has my utmost confidence as the leader of the party and I’m sure in the coming days we will hear what his plan are,” he said.
Following the April 28 election, Premier Danielle Smith said, “Albertans are proud Canadians that want this nation to be strong, prosperous, and united, but we will no longer tolerate having our industries threatened and our resources landlocked by Ottawa.”
