Conservative leadership contender Patrick Brown has announced a 12-step plan to give Western Canadians “a better deal.”.On Saturday, Brown appealed to Western Canadians by saying he’s the only candidate that will keep the Conservatives from treating them “like an ATM.”.Among the promises —which include winning, and forming government — Brown said he would address Western representation, equalization payments, and the energy sector..“Across Canada, Conservatives are tired of losing federal elections to Justin Trudeau,” Brown said in a release. “For Western Canadians, the stakes have been high — three election losses to the Liberals have meant massive job losses, unaffordable living and inequity.”.The former Conservative MP said he would fix equalization by treating all resource revenues in provinces and territories the same under the program. To address equal representation, he would ensure electoral seat redistribution is based on population representation and he would use Alberta’s current selection process to appoint Albertan Senators..In another promise, the Brampton, Ont. mayor acknowledged his“list is not complete.” .He also said he would reject policies that close jobs in certain industries, saying the only “just transition” is Trudeau transitioning out of office..Following his pitch on Saturday, Brown said his newly-named national campaign co-chair, Conservative MP Michelle Rempel Garner, is “Western Canada’s strongest champion.”.In a statement, Rempel Garner said the Conservatives need a leader that can build and win in areas the party traditionally loses, but without compromising or disappointing longtime members..“I know that the team Patrick is building will grow the Conservative party to a victory in the next federal election,” she said. “Nothing unites Conservatives like winning a federal election. I’m proud to be part of this movement and I’m in it to win it.” .Brown also said he wants to “restore international pride and investment” in the energy sector by allowing the provinces to set caps on industry specific greenhouse gas emissions. He said he would move ahead with a national energy corridor, and he would repeal harmful provisions in Bills C-48 and C-69, which bans oil tankers off BC’s Northern Coast and overhauls the federal regulatory approval process..To ensure regional equity in the “soft power systems of Ottawa,” Brown would, among other things, mandate remote public service roles have proportional regional equity, and remove the requirement that federal judges must live in Ottawa..“To finally fix Western alienation and to unite our country, Western Canadians need the Conservative Party to do something that we haven’t done in over a decade – and that is win.”
