Not too many people would argue that Stirling-Rawdon resident Derek Sloan is one of the most talked about politicians in Canada.
From winning his candidate selection meeting, in what many saw as an upset, to taking out MP Mike Bossio in 2019, to running for the federal party leadership just a few months later, Sloan has been a polarizing figure. He was removed from the Caucus of the Conservative Party earlier this year, and has squared off with party leadership ever since. His battle over the COVID-19 vaccine and lockdowns also fueled the fire and the divide on him.
Just a few weeks ago he announced that he would be running for reelection in Hastings-Lennox & Addington, but that is not the case. Quinte News has learned that Sloan will be running as an Independent in the riding of Banff-Airdrie in Alberta. Sloan says they did not choose that riding at random.
“We did some polling in Alberta and we were polling really strongly in many places. I wanted to target someone that deserves to be taken out. Blake Richards (MP Banff-Airdrie) is the one who is carrying O’Toole’s water out in Alberta.”
Blake Richards is the Chief Opposition Whip, the MP who brings party members in line on matters of policy.
The True North Party has been rumored to be his new party, however he was not able to receive Elections Canada approval by the time the writ dropped. Sloan says in the meantime, candidates that would have made up his party will run as Independents this time. It is not known how many candidates who support Sloan will be running, but he did confirm Hastings-Lennox & Addington will have a candidate.
We asked Sloan what he would say to his constituents in his riding that he is leaving.
“I’m still a resident of the Bay of Quinte area. I was honoured to serve and run there. I think people will be very happy at who is going to be running in my shoes.”
Sloan would not release a name, however it is expected that the person could be known as early as this weekend. Where candidates would be running elsewhere is also not known.
