Vankleek Hill’s Derek Duval to seek PC nomination

Derek Duval figures it is time he got off the sidelines and took a more active role in politics. That is one of several reasons he gives for his decision to seek the Progressive Conservative candidate nomination in the Glengarry-Prescott-Russell provincial riding.

“I’ve always been taught that if you want something done right, you do it yourself,” Duval said during a Sunday phone interview. “And if you want something, you go after it. You don’t sit on the sidelines and wait for someone to hand it to you.”

The Vankleek Hill businessman added that dissatisfaction with some of the recent and past policy decisions from the Wynne Liberal government also prompted him to seek nomination as the GPR’s Progressive Conservative candidate when the next provincial election rolls around.

“It’s my future, it’s my family’s future, it’s my daughter’s future,” he said.

Duval’s background includes a bachelor’s degree in business law from Carleton University, along with experience as a small business owner running his own company in the construction trade sector. At present he is project manager for Montebello Packaging, based in Hawkesbury. He also cited his student summer work on local farms and at the Ivaco Rolling Mill as part of his experience related to being familiar with the working lifestyle of the average resident in Glengarry-Prescott-Russell.

“I have the real experience working these kinds of jobs,” he said, adding that he is also active in community affairs through his involvement with the Hawkesbury Rotary Club and as a director for the Reality Tour drug awareness and prevention program provided through partnerships between local school districts and the community.

Duval noted that one of the top issues he gets feedback on during his nomination campaign walks-and-talks around the riding is Ontario Hydro. Everyone he talks to, whether a homeowner or a business person, lists the cost of hydro as a worry.

“The concern is the mounting hydro cost,” he admitted. “They’re all talking about their bills. We have smart meters installed, we have conservation measures, people doing their laundry at night when the rate is supposed to be cheaper, and still the hydro bill goes up. People can’t keep up.”

Duval thinks that Toronto has a “seat heavy” presence in the legislature so that Ontario’s rural issues do not get as much attention as they should. He cited that, along with government mismanagement of Hydro and bureaucracy, as part of the reason for Derek Duval tentera d’obtenir l’investiture du Parti progressiste-conservateur dans Glengarry-Prescott-Russell en vue des prochaines élections provinciales. Il est la deuxième personne à annoncer sa candidature. L’autre candidate est Amanda Simard d’Embrun.—photo

slow economic growth and lack of jobs in the riding, which forces young people and families to move away. This also results in fewer students available for local schools, which forces school districts to consider school closures to cut back on their operation expenses.

Right now there are two confirmed candidates—Duval and Amanda Simard—for nomination as the Progressive Conservative

choice for the GPR in the next provincial election. Duval noted the most important thing for the riding in the next provincial election is electing an MPP voters are certain will represent the riding.

“No matter what party we elect,” he said. “It’s important that we elect someone to represent the GPR riding in Toronto, and not Toronto in the GPR.”