Conservative leadership hopeful Maxime Bernier has recruited former Alberta member of Parliament and businessman Brian Storseth as his campaign co-chair.

Storseth represented the riding of Westlock—St. Paul from 2006 until his retirement from federal politics in 2015. He was the only Alberta MP at the time to sit on the standing committees on agriculture and agri-food, and aboriginal affairs.

He is also known for introducing a private member’s bill in 2011 to repeal Section 13 of the Canadian Human Rights Act, which had prohibited “the communication of hate messages by telephone or on the Internet.” The bill passed and became law.

“Brian is a great Conservative, having been elected in Alberta three times by very wide margins,” Bernier wrote in a news release issued Thursday afternoon. “He is both thoughtful and hard working. I am proud to have Brian’s help in uniting all Conservatives behind the ideas of freedom, responsibility, fairness and respect.”

Born in Barrhead, Alta. Storseth worked in politics at the municipal and provincial levels before running to become a federal MP. While studying at the University of Alberta, he worked in the office of the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta. Storseth was also elected to his hometown town council in his early twenties.

In the news release, Storseth called Bernier the most promising and dedicated candidate of the 12 Tory MPs who are officially in the race to replace Stephen Harper as the head of the Conservative party.

“After watching the race for many months, it has become obvious that Maxime Bernier is the only candidate that has truly excited the Party base with bold and authentic policies,” he wrote. “Lowering the price of milk, reducing family taxes, lowering airline and cellular bills are all free market conservative policies that are meaningful to the lives of all Canadians.

“Maxime is leading by example, and is the best candidate to challenge the Trudeau Liberals in every region of this country in the next election.”

Bernier — who represents the riding of Beauce, Que. — was the second Tory MP to join the now-crowded Conservative leadership race. Since announcing his bid in mid-May, he has issued a number of policy announcements and has run a robust fundraising campaign.