With a federal election rite to be dropped any time now, the two known candidates for the Banff-Airdrie riding are in full election mode.

Last week, People’s Party of Canada (PPC) candidate Nadine Wellwood, of Cochrane, announced a director of the Conservative party has jumped ship and is throwing his support behind her.

Wellwood TalsmaBryce Talsma with PPC candidate Nadine Wellwood.

Bryce Talsma, a director with the Banff – Airdrie Conservative Party of Canada (CPC) Electoral District Association, recently submitted his resignation to the Board on and announced his support for Wellwood.

In his letter to the Board, Talsma states, “There has been significant compromises and adoption of policies that, I believe, has made the CPC no more than a ‘Liberal-Lite’ party in blue,” wrote Talsma in his resignation letter.

Incumbent Conservative MP Blake Richards believes thousands of his supporters would disagree with that statement.

“The bottom line is everybody is entitled to their opinion but I have hundreds of volunteers and thousands of supporters in our constituency who would disagree."

Blake RichardsBlake Richards is holding an open house this Saturday. The federal election has to be called no later than Sept. 15.

He believes the Conservatives are the only party in a position to bring about change.

The election has to be called by Sept. 15 and the teams of both candidates are door-knocking and dropping flyer daily. Special campaign events have also been rolling out.

Richards is holding an open house this Saturday (Sept. 14) at 116 Centre Ave. Wellwood has a steak dinner election kick-off at the Texas Gates, 304 1st St. W., on Sept. 21.

The candidates aren’t the only one preparing for the election. Elections Canada is fine-tuning the balloting process. They have announced more advanced polls with longer hours after experiencing a 75 per cent increase in advance voting during the 2015 federal election. They are also simplifying the process for faster and smoother service for voters.