By Glenn Hicks

P.A. lawyer wants to become Liberal MP

Dec 20, 2018 | 4:30 PM

A Prince Albert Legal Aid lawyer is seeking the nod from the Liberal Party to run in next year’s federal election.

Estelle Hjertaas submitted her name to party headquarters and hopes to get the opportunity to run this October in a large riding she thinks is being over-looked.

“Even just within Saskatchewan we’re over-looked and we don’t get our fair shake for being the third largest city which hosts services for the whole northern region,” she told paNOW. “This riding, which is all the way from Shellbrook to Nipawin, has a lot of different things in it and I don’t think anyone really pays attention to us.”

Hjertaas hopes the party and the voters would pay attention to her if she secured the nomination as she is well connected in the community.

The 33-year-old bilingual lawyer is involved in Big Brothers Big Sisters and the YWCA. She also founded Prince Albert Salsa and Prince Albert Young Professionals.

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It is that connection to younger voters she hopes to capture.

“I think younger people are more interested in global issues like climate change than maybe the older voters, so that’s part of it,” she said. “In the next 10 months before the election, I want to be with as many people as possible and hear what they have to say.”

Hjertaas said in almost every riding in the country those who don’t show up to vote are the largest voting block.

“So it’s a matter of engaging people that aren’t voting and unfortunately many of those people are young people and I’ve done a lot of work with youth,” she said.

She noted for two and half years she represented every youth charged with a criminal offence in the region so she figures she has a handle on the issues and challenges some people face.

Hjertaas said she saw great opportunities for the riding in business, services and the arts among other sectors, but also many challenges including inequality, poverty and crime.

From a personal perspective she figured now was the right time to try to become the area’s voice in Ottawa.

“I think I have the experience that I need and I’ve been here long enough to have connections and to understand what some of the needs are for P.A. and the region and I can bring those issues to the forefront,” she said.

glenn.hicks@jpbg.ca

On Twitter:@princealbertnow