Conservative incumbent MP Blaine Calkins handily landed in first place for the newly-formed Ponoka-Didsbury riding in Monday's federal election.
"I really want to say thank you to all of the voters of Ponoka-Didsbury for putting their trust in me," said Calkins.
"Many have known me for quite some time, and many are just getting to know me - I would like to thank them on behalf of our leader, Pierre Poilievre and our whole team for continuing to keep their trust in us.
"We didn't get the results that we were looking for this evening, but I know the team will come together in Ottawa, and continue to do our job, which is playing that critical role of His Majesty's Loyal Opposition, of holding the government to account, and of making sure that we respect Canadians' tax dollars," he said.
"We will also make sure our country is going in a good direction," he said, adding the Liberals will have to re-think how they are treating the rest of the country, and change their tone when it comes to dealing with the west in general.
"For us here in Alberta, particularly in rural Alberta, it would be nice to be treated as equals with the rest of the country," said Calkins.
"We have great entrepreneurs - hard-working, industrious people here, and tremendous natural and human resources. It's time to unleash those resources, grow our economy, and create some hope and optimism for future generations."'
Other candidates for Ponoka-Didsbury included Grant Abraham (United Party of Canada), Larry Gratton (PPC), Logan Hooley (NDP), and Zarnab Zafar (independent).
Calkins has been a member of the Conservative Party of Canada since 2006, and is one of the party's longest-serving MPs.
His political experience highlights include being appointed as the Official Opposition Shadow Minister for Hunting, Angling, and Conservation. Before being elected as the MP for the former riding of Red Deer – Lacombe, he represented the constituency of Wetaskiwin prior to the 2015 federal election.
Throughout his time as a parliamentarian, he has held several positions, including being chair of the Alberta Conservative Caucus, chair of the Subcommittee of Finance for Bill C-38 (Jobs, Growth and Prosperity Act), chair of the Access to Information and Privacy and Ethics Committee, among others.
He has also served on other standing committees, including Public Safety, National Defence, Justice, Environment, Fisheries and Oceans, and Veterans Affairs.
The newly-drawn riding of Ponoka-Didsbury is expansive, including the communities of Lacombe, Bentley, Blackfalds, Bowden, Didsbury, Eckville, Innisfail, Olds, Ponoka, Rimbey, and Sylvan Lake.
It also covers the villages of Alix and Clive, the summer villages of Birchcliff, Gull Lake, Half Moon Bay, Jarvis Bay, Norglenwold, Parkland Beach and Sunbreaker Cove, Lacombe County, parts of Ponoka County and parts of Red Deer County.
