Lewis hopes to serve the ‘average’ Canadian

Leslyn Lewis knows she’s a strong social conservative candidate.

She told Gormley on Friday that her authenticity is why Saskatchewan likes her.

“I’m the kind of person that, even if I know something is going to negatively affect my career and I know it’s the right thing to do for Canadians, I’m going to speak out against it,” said Lewis, a member of the House of Commons who is running for the leadership of the Conservative Party of Canada.

Calling herself a “fierce advocate” for the hard-working, average Canadian, Lewis said her background in environmental studies means she wants to find ways to protect the environment and develop Canada’s natural resources without putting a carbon tax on the backs of ordinary Canadians.

When asked about one of her opponents for the Conservative leadership, Pierre Poilievre, Lewis said she didn’t think he would be a challenge. She noted they both have a fiscal conservative background, and while he has parliamentary experience, she brings her own entrepreneurial background to the table.

“I have the experience of building a business, signing a paycheque, making sure my employees are taken care of (and) creating wealth outside of Parliament,” Lewis said, adding she wants to see Canadians get back to work.

She noted they, as different candidates, have different strengths. She also highlighted her social issue stances.

“I think that most Canadians just want to be left alone, believe what they want to believe, to worship their God, to raise their children in accordance with their values,” Lewis stated.

She says she holds her own beliefs, and holds them strongly, but does not want to impose those views on others. Her approach, she said, is to share what she believes and then meet people in common ground to explore areas of issues they can come to an agreement about.

Her policies, she explained, are focusing on those common beliefs rather than allowing politics to separate and demonize Canadians.

Lewis also wants to see economic policies that focus on benefiting all Canadians, like resource development for agriculture and food processing industries. She sees a vision for a stronger Canada through more reliance on the country’s own natural resources.