CORNWALL, Ontario – Eric Duncan officially accepted the Conservative Party of Canada nomination to be their candidate for the riding of Stormont-Dundas-South Glengarry in the 2019 federal election at a rally held in Cornwall at the Ramada Inn on Wednesday, May 1, 2019.
Before taking the stage himself, Duncan was introduced by several people who know him well, Bev Runions, who for many years served on the Williamstown Fair Committee, his former high school teacher Mike Dayton, and incumbent Conservative MP Guy Lauzon, for whom Duncan worked for nine years.
“My first encounter with Eric was during his Prime Ministerial campaign in Grade 11,” said Dayton. “Eric was campaigning on fiscal responsibility and a zero-means-zero student fee increase. Eric’s leadership is still the gold standard at North Dundas District High School.”
Guy Lauzon related a story of first meeting Duncan.
“I said to Francine, I think I just met a 17-year-old going on 30,” he said. “I had never met a teen who was so mature. Boy oh boy, I thought, this guy was smart and his political acuity was amazing.”
Lauzon told the packed room at the Ramada Inn how Eric would balance his duties as then Mayor of North Dundas while being executive assistant to himself, the National Caucus chair of the Conservative Party. Lauzon explained how Duncan would leave Ottawa to zip down to Winchester for a council meeting, then return to Ottawa at 11 p.m. to prep for the National Caucus meeting the next day. Lauzon promised that this was the type of dedication Duncan would bring to the job of MP if elected in the Fall.
Duncan was piped in by the South Glengarry pipe band, and was wearing a Duncan tartan tie, and even had the Brigadoons play local favourite songs like the Martintown Song. Duncan joked that he was working really hard already to get the South Glengarry vote.
“I’m fired up and ready to go for the next election,” Duncan said. “I’ve been asked over the years what draws me to the Conservatives. I believe in low taxes and efficiently delivering essential government services.”
Duncan said that when it came to campaigning, he was going to “do the Guy Lauzon,” meaning he intends to focus on the grassroots, going to county fairs, church breakfasts, and community events.
Duncan went on to outline some of his party’s policies for the upcoming election.
“Just because we don’t believe in a carbon tax, doesn’t mean we don’t care about the environment,” he said, but did not explain what policies the Conservatives would enact to fight climate change, only stating that a full platform would be forthcoming.
Other policies that Duncan was able to promise was an exemption of HST for home heating bills and an exemption of income tax on employment insurance for those on parental leave. Duncan also voiced his support for supply management.
Duncan said he wanted to run a clean campaign, and expressed his distaste for personal attacks, below the belt shots and fighting.
“I will bring the same style of leadership and tone to this new job that I did to my previous ones,” he said, and went on to applaud those who may step forward as candidates for other parties. “I know just like me you care about our country. I admire you for standing up for what you believe in and putting your names on the ballot.”
