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Independent candidate to challenge Richards for MP

Nick4Prez
Nick Flaumitsch plans to run as an independent in the 2019 federal election to offer voters choices based on ideas, not partisanship.

Airdronian Nick Flaumitsch is putting his name forward to run as an independent candidate in the anticipated fall 2019 federal election for the Banff-Airdrie riding. The self-described "progressive" candidate wants fellow constituency members to know that choice is important and that his decision is based on a desire to provide voters choice and challenge politicians to put party politics aside and return to the issues at hand. "We plan to tackle complex issues that have been largely ignored by all parties, either from a lack of understanding, corrupt intent or lack of intestinal fortitude," said Flaumitsch in a recent press release. "The debates between current party leaders have devolved into something comparable to a school yard shouting match." The 33-year-old father of one said that he "simply wants to bring ideas forward," and that he sees voter apathy growing because people are forced to vote for parties over ideas. "We need to change the system of government ... we need to give people the power to vote on each issue rather than just Liberal or Conservative." He likens his core view to cast party politics aside to Flux in Australia – a gateway for citizens to participate directly in parliament and making elected officials redundant. Elected Flux MPs and senators give up their autonomy and use their votes to align with voter-determined outcomes. According to voteflux.org there are 7,449 registered members and 1,936 registered volunteers. Flaumitsch's primary focuses will be on debt: federal, provincial and personal debt. "We must address debt to address all other problems that we face, because the choice between austerity or creating more debt is a bad choice and a false choice." On oil sands, Flaumitsch said that he is supportive of Canadian oil and prioritizing the Energy East pipeline. On carbon tax, Flaumitsch said it could be done differently and replaced with a more comprehensive plan. "I will agree with most people it's a tax grab ... but there should be a price on pollution." On minimum wage, he is supportive of the increases and feels that more take-home pay will translate to more money put back into the economy. He is also advocating for interest-free mortgages, something he feels can be done through the "restoration of the Bank of Canada to its original purpose ... (that) includes making interest-free loans to the municipal/provincial/federal governments for human capital expenditures (education, health, other social services) and/or infrastructure expenditures." By reversing the logic on borrowing from private banks and losing the interest profits gained, Flaumitsch said this would help stabilize house prices. Health concerns in his teens led him to not finish high school and into the niche world of sports apparel supply and sales. He is currently self-employed and makes custom uniforms. He grew up in Calgary and has called Airdrie home for 10 years. Conservative Blake Richards has announced that he will run for a fifth term as MP for Banff-Airdrie.    

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