Co-founder of Pink Shirt Day seeks Tory nomination
CLAYTON PARK — The co-founder of the Pink Shirt Day anti-bullying movement has taken the “next step” into provincial politics.
Travis Price announced Tuesday that he is seeking the nomination for the Progressive Conservatives in the riding of Clayton Park-Fairview.
“It became really frustrating when I was pushing our NDP government to make a difference and to put in the strong legislation that would protect kids,” Price said at the Lower Deck in Clayton Park.
“When they failed to do so, I didn’t want to be somebody that just talked a whole lot, I wanted to be somebody that continues to do things.”
When asked of the intimidation that goes in Province House itself, Price said it worries him a “little bit,” but said you also can’t stop politicians from arguing.
“If I’m fortunate enough to get in there and I see (bullying), I’ll do what I did when I was 17 and I’ll make a difference. I’ll stand up for colleagues and fellow people in the House,” Price said.
Although the 23-year-old Price would be one of the youngest MLAs if elected, Tory leader Jamie Baillie said it takes a mix of people for a party to work.
“Travis is one of those people with fresh new ideas and a will to get things done,” Baillie said.
Graham Steele of the NDP currently holds down the riding, but the popular MLA and cabinet minister isn’t reoffering.
Abad Khan, a development and communications co-ordinator for the YMCA-YWCA, is running for the NDP, while educator Patricia Arab has been nominated for the Liberals.