While the federal election rite hasn't been dropped, Banff-Airdrie MP Blake Richards is among candidates firing up their teams and supporters for the fall federal election.

Richards says it's full speed ahead on his campaign. It's the same for the national Conservative party seeking to unseat Justin Trudeau's administration. The election must be held no later than Oct. 21 but could come sooner.

"We're ready to go," says Richards. "We know that be can be called a little bit early. We're ready for that in case that possibility comes along."

Since the end of the Calgary Stampede, he's been campaigning seven days a week.

"We've probably knocked on 7,000 doors already, We have 60,000 voters in the riding and we want to visit all of them. If we keep pace we should be able to hit every single home in the riding, hopefully."

"It's been a great opportunity to hear the issues and what's on people's minds and ask for their support."

From what he's heard, pipelines and jobs are top of mind across the constituency.

"People want to see a pipeline or two built so that we can get our product to tidewater and get people back to work. Those two are head and shoulders above everything else."

Western alienation has crept back into the picture.

"I think people are feeling a little bit left out by the Trudeau government. They're feeling like our concerns just don't matter, that our concerns are not on the radar screen. They are saying we need to see a Conservative government to get that back on track."

While travelling the country in his role on the Conservatives' small business, export promotion and tourism shadow cabinet, he has spoken to many of his fellow candidates preparing for what is sizing up to be a close race between the Liberals and Conservatives.

"A lot of our candidates in ridings that we don't hold now say they have knocked on 30,000-40,000 doors. They're really out working hard. We're trying to earn support one vote at a time and use all the time available to try to reach out to as many people as we can."

The People's Party of Canada has proclaimed themselves as the real conservative party but Richards doesn't plan to enter into that fray.

"I don't focus too much on what other people are saying, what other parties are saying, what other candidates are saying or doing. I try to focus on the voters of my constituency and try to do the best I can, first to serve their needs as their representative in Ottawa and secondly to reach out and hear their concerns and let them know I want to opportunity to continue to represent them."

"I've worked hard on behalf of the people and I've tried to represent the area well. I think people know that, so they'll make their own judgement about who is the real this or the real that. At the end of the day, I know I've worked hard for the people. I've put my name forward and I'm hoping to earn their vote."

His fall barbecue has been rebranded "Blake's 2019 Election Kick-Off Barbecue" and is being held on Aug. 24 on a farm just east of Airdrie.

It is a modest campaign fundraiser at a cost of $20 and children can come free of charge. For more information visit info@voterichards.ca or click https://www.voterichards.ca/reservations to buy tickets.