YORKTON – A Yorkton city councillor says his years of experience in education and municipal government have prepared him to seek federal office.
Quinn Haider confirmed he has submitted his paperwork to the Conservative Party of Canada to pursue the party's nomination in the Yorkton–Melville riding.
The announcement comes after longtime Member of Parliament Cathay Wagantall said she will not seek re-election in the next federal campaign. Wagantall has represented the riding since first being elected in 2015 under the Conservative banner.
Haider said his decision to run comes after conversations with residents and local leaders about the issues affecting the region.
"I've spent a lot of time talking with people in Yorkton and across the riding and the message I hear is that people want strong representation that understands rural Saskatchewan," Haider said. "I believe my experience in municipal government gives me a clear understanding of what communities here need."
Haider has served on Yorkton city council for the last decade, during which he said he has focused on infrastructure, economic growth and supporting local services.
He said that experience has helped him understand how federal decisions can impact municipalities and smaller communities.
"Municipal government is often where you see the direct impact of federal policies," Haider said. "I've seen how funding decisions, regulations and national priorities affect our ability to deliver services locally."
Haider said during his time on council, he has tried to support a wide range of local groups and community events and he hopes to continue that support on a larger scale if elected to federal office.
"I've done my best to support our local groups through culture days and different events," he said. "I'd like to do the same thing throughout the entire riding and then take those concerns to Ottawa."
As for what concerns. Haider said if selected as the Conservative candidate, he plans to focus on affordability, economic development and support for agriculture and resource industries.
"People are concerned about the cost of living and the challenges facing families and businesses," he said. "Our region is built on agriculture, energy and small business and we need policies that allow those sectors to thrive."
Outside of municipal politics, Haider has spent more than three decades working in education. He is currently the principal of St. Paul's Catholic Elementary School in Yorkton.
Haider said his 33 years in teaching have helped develop communication and leadership skills he believes would translate well to federal politics.
"My entire career has been working with people and being in service to others," he said. "As a principal, you deal with budgeting and administration, but you also have to work with people and sometimes have difficult conversations."
He added that those experiences, along with his time on council, have helped prepare him for the demands of representing a large rural riding.
Those demands include maintaining strong connections with residents across the large region.
"The riding is massive," he said. "I'll have to find ways to get out to all the different communities, meet people and make those connections like I've tried to do here in Yorkton."
If successful in securing the nomination and eventually winning a federal election, Haider said he would step away from his teaching career.
"It's been an extremely rewarding career," he said. "When the time comes for me to leave, I know the students here will continue to be in very good hands."
Haider said his interest in federal politics grew over his career as a social studies teacher, where he regularly discussed government and elections with students and participated in the Student Vote program, which simulates elections in schools.
"That really helped awaken a passion for politics," he said.
Haider added that his family's support has also helped shape his decision to enter federal politics. His two daughters are now attending university and he said the timing is right personally to pursue the opportunity.
"My wife has also given me her blessing to take this next step."
The Conservative Party has not yet announced a timeline for the Yorkton–Melville nomination process.
Haider is the first publicly known candidate to announce his intention to seek the nomination.
