Stockwell Day in town

Photo: Deborah Pfeiffer

Stockwell Day, a former Okanagan MP and leader of the Canadian Alliance, was in Penticton, Saturday, to show his support for the Conservative party.

Day spent the day campaigning along with Conservative candidates Marshall Neufeld and Dan Albas.

"I am just one of many happy volunteers," he said, after arriving on a bus with the candidates and volunteers. "And we just want to make sure that the good leadership in our country stays."

Day jumped on Prime Minister Stephen Harper's bus a few weeks ago in Vancouver, and is travelling all over B.C.

So far he has spent time in the Lower Mainland, and most recently in Kelowna and Trail.

Day is pitching the Tory message that a Conservative government is the best choice to protect the economy.

"I work with a lot of business people who love the fact that we have a balanced budget, low taxes and the strongest economy in the G20," he said. "And that goes hand in hand with the province having a balanced budget. That's a great attraction for trade of our products and services to Asia and the U.S."

He told Castanet, Saturday, that he finds it encouraging to come to the Okanagan and see how well received both Neufeld and Albas are.

On July 8, 2000, Day was elected as the first leader of the Canadian Alliance Party.

In September 2000, he won more than 70 per cent of the vote in a by-election for the Okanagan-Coquihalla riding, and served as its MP.

On Sept. 19, 2000, he became the leader of her Majesty's Loyal Opposition in the House of Commons.

He announced in March of 2011 that he would not seek re-election in the next federal election.

Day will be back in the Lower Mainland Monday and the journey will continue from there.

He added he is taking this all the way to the finish line on Oct. 19.

"People want to see Canada strong and getting stronger," he said.