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One pastor was even overheard to have referred to Gallant as 'our saviour'

The importance of gun ownership was a key reason the formerly Liberal riding had become a Conservative fortress after the government of Jean Chretien introduced a national long-gun registry. I was a gun owner, and quickly boned up on the issues. I spoke at a gun club near Westmeath, but the larger Pembroke club withdrew its offer to have me appear, saying it didn’t want to politicize its meetings. As an honorary member, however, Gallant made sure to attend one of the club’s meetings during the nomination race. While I was scrambling to sell memberships, Gallant took time out from the campaign to attend a gun show in Las Vegas. Later in the campaign I learned of the spread of a rumour — inaccurate — that I was against the spring bear hunt.

Meanwhile, within 24 hours of my courtesy call to Gallant in December — and before I publicly announced my candidacy — Campaign Life circulated a letter to supporters urging them to protect the incumbent against a “progressive“ challenge. No one at Campaign Life ever contacted me to discuss my views, and yet this group falsely labelled me an abortionist. One pastor was even overheard to have referred to Gallant as “our saviour.” Many times in my campaign I was asked to which church I belonged, and more than once I got the feeling that my answer — Anglican — wasn’t good enough.

Finally, the head of the local landowners association — a committed but often misunderstood lobby group that defends private-property rights — issued a rather testy opinion piece questioning my motives about running. I was branded a “globalist,” a term Trump supporters use to identify rich elites who support the internationalization of our economy. Unlike Campaign Life, the landowners gave me the courtesy of a meeting. I think I was successful in convincing them I was not a threat to their agenda, but it was also clear they wanted someone who would vote for their issues regardless of the party’s position. I told them I couldn’t promise this, because breaking faith with the party risked losing influence in caucus, which would ultimately hurt the riding.