The breakaway Freedom Conservative Party (FCP) will try to make waves in this year’s provincial election on April 16, and Matthew Morrisey is looking to be at the forefront as their MLA candidate in the brand new Airdrie-Cochrane riding.

Morrisey, a father journeyman master electrician, wants to ensure that the trades industries remain healthy into Alberta’s future.

“The trades community is a tight-knit community, that they’re important because without them our communities aren’t built,” he said.

“It’s important for them to have a high-end education, and have proper funding for that. We need that high-skilled labour to grow this province’s economy.”

The candidate also served with the Canadian Armed Forces.

“I felt like I needed to serve my country, I was out of high school and that’s what I wanted to endeavour to do because I felt it was important to have a close connection to my country,” he said.

“It teaches you a lot of great life skills, and I can not say enough good things about my time during that period of my life.”

The need for a 24-hour healthcare facility in Cochrane is a key aspect of Morrisey’s platform, as well as expanded choice in education.

The candidate is hoping that youth become more involved in politics.

“I’ve been reached out to by a lot of schools, and I think that’s really important because I want to encourage youth to get involved in the democratic process,” he said.

“The more they get involved, the better and stronger our democracy becomes.”

According to Morrisey, greater overall civic engagement is crucial for eliminating the more negative elements of politics.

“When there are more eyes on the process, the less likely you’ll have underhandedness. How Jason Kenney and Jeff Callaway torpedoed Brian Jean, you could see how stuff like that can really turn people off politics. I want to ensure that our democracy stays healthy and a beacon of trust for the electorate.”

When Morrisey became more and more disenchanted with his provincial government, he knew it was time to get involved himself. He served on the boards of both the former Wildrose Party and the FCP.

“After the NDP got elected, I decided that just voting wasn’t enough and I had to actually get involved to make a difference,” he said.

Formerly known as the Alberta First Party, the FCP gained new life and a new name last year. After being barred from running as a candidate for the UCP last summer, Strathmore-Brooks MLA Derek Fildebrandt crossed the floor to become the FCP’s first representative in the Legislature, becoming the party’s leader in the process.

“Derek doesn’t try to sugar-coat things, he doesn’t dance around,” said Morrisey.

“He’s open, he’s honest. Freedom doesn’t have a bias, freedom is for everybody and ensuring that we are continually allowing our society to self-determine how they want to live their life, that’s really important.”

All four candidates will be attending an election forum hosted by the Cochrane Eagle and Cochrane & District Chamber of Commerce at the Lions Event Centre at 7 p.m. on April 9. More information on Morrisey and his platform can be found online at Facebook.com/MatthewJMorrisey.