I am happy to announce that at the present time I plan to continue as MLA for Kootenay East and do not plan to seek the nomination for the Conservative Party of Canada for the Riding of Kootenay-Columbia. I wanted to clear the air before the Conservative Constituency Association holds its Annual General Meeting on April 6th and to encourage the participation of those in the region who aspire to follow in the footsteps of my friend, MP Jim Abbott.

The reasons for my decision are as follows:

1. I love my job. I love representing my constituents. I enjoy the challenges of healthcare, education, social services, land use, mining, forestry, agriculture, tourism and outdoor recreation. These diverse areas of public policy provide me with an almost unlimited opportunity to make a difference in the lives of the good people of Kootenay East. And making a difference is why I am in public life.

2. Thousands of voters supported me and hundreds of volunteers worked extremely hard to elect me as their MLA less than a year ago. They placed their faith in me. I want to continue to work for them.

3. I have much unfinished business that I want to complete. To name just a few: ORV management; a land use plan for the Koocanusa area; improved healthcare services; 4 year nursing at College of the Rockies; a replacement high school in Cranbrook; protecting access to the Flathead and opposing a new park; amendments to the ALR in the Kootenays; helping the forest sector come back and the mining industry expand; and encouraging new investment and job creation in Kootenay East.

4. As Minister of Community & Rural Development, I can bring positive benefits to our region that we have not historically experienced.

5. I am an advocate in the provincial capital for all rural British Columbians on all rural issues. It is a role that I love, it is a key reason I entered provincial politics and it is a key reason I am staying put.