The mayor of Ramara Township is hoping to take the leap from municipal to federal politics.
Basil Clarke announced Monday he is seeking the nomination for the Simcoe North Conservatives in the next federal election.
One of the main reasons he’s hoping to run as a candidate for MP is the country’s finances.
“I’m very concerned, being a fiscal conservative, about the uncontrolled deficits we’ve been running, both before and during COVID,” Clarke said.
Focusing on finances was “one of the first things I tackled when I became mayor here in Ramara,” he said.
Clarke is a farmer who ran dairy and livestock operations before switching to cash crops.
“I grew up on a farm that we established in 1840 and we’re still here,” he said.
He also owned Candles with Care, with his wife, Carey, in downtown Orillia for 13 years. Those experiences, combined with his 20 years on Ramara council, make him a good fit for MP, he said.
“It’s one thing to understand government but not have an ear to the ground of small business. I’ve got experience in both worlds,” he said, adding he believes there is a “huge disconnect” between government and small business.
The current lockdown is one example, he said, referring to it as “a mistake.”
“The numbers (of COVID-19 cases) haven’t dropped,” he said. “Also, why is it safe to shop in Walmart but not a small store?”
Clarke is also concerned about the Liberal government’s approach to gun laws. He is a gun owner.
“None are on the restricted list, but that’s just a matter a time until the Liberals make us all criminals,” he said. “Liberals want to blame the gun and they want to blame society rather than the individual.”
If he wins the nomination and becomes the next MP, Clarke said he would focus on issues with the Trent-Severn Waterway and try to find a solution to annual flooding.
“We can’t just shrug our shoulders every year and say, ‘It’s just flooding again,’” he said.
Reliable internet service in the riding would also be “a huge one” for Clarke to focus on. Bringing back income splitting would be, too. Getting rid of it “really hurt the middle class,” he said.
If he wins the nomination, Clarke said he will stay on as mayor of Ramara until an election is called. The next general election is set for October 2023, but with a minority Parliament, “I don’t see (Prime Minister Justin) Trudeau being able to work with everybody to make this go full term,” he said.
Clarke likes his chances as he goes up against others seeking the Simcoe North Conservative nomination. Longtime MP Bruce Stanton announced in 2020 he would not seek re-election.
“I’m certainly the most rounded of them and I think I’m the most relatable to the people in Simcoe North,” he said.
He has been a fiscal conservative longer than he’s been a card-carrying Conservative, he said, adding he was drawn to the party because “the Liberal party seems to show no fiscal responsibility whatsoever.”
He also believes “in family values.”
“You see the socialists pushing more for big government, and they want government to be their family,” he said.
A date for the local nomination meeting has not yet been set.
Clarke invites those who want to learn more about him to call him at 705-323-3060, visit his website or follow him on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.
