Nadine Wellwood is not a career politician. Actually, she has no use for them.

Nor has she ever run for political office, until now.

Wellwood, 47, is the People's Party of Canada (PPC) candidate for the Banff-Airdrie riding that includes Cochrane. She's eager for people to get to know her and to become familiar with the new party.

To that end, the 13-year resident of Cochrane is holding an open house this Saturday at the Frank Wills Memorial Hall from 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. 

Like many Canadians, Wellwood was disenfranchised by politics. Then she discovered the PPC, founded by Maxime Bernier last year. Its principles of freedom, fairness, respect and responsibility resonated.

"I went, 'What kind of Unicorn Party is this?' It was too good to be true. Then I did some research and I found Maxime's message has been consistent year over year. No changes, no adjusting. He sticks by his principles."

She believes Canada has strayed too far to the left. She believes we are so bogged down by identity politics and political correctness that we can't even have real debates.

"I look at the overall direction of where things are going and it's depressing. If you want to see change, then you have to be the change. So, here I am."

"I think we need to refresh," she says. "We need new ideas, we need new energy. We need somebody who I think is more linked to the real issues of today, someone who hasn’t necessarily been in government for 12 years. We need somebody who works and can relate to people on that level and bring it to Ottawa. I think we need fewer career politicians and more real people."

As a business owner, mom and wife, Wellwood fills many shoes. She has had successful careers in recreation, health, national defence, has headed her own aerospace and defence company and currently owns and operates an independent financial planning and securities firm.

"I work with people every day. I don’t have a multi-million trust fund to fall back on. When I need dental work, I write a cheque. I don’t have a pension, I’m building my pension."

She believes eliminating inefficiencies inherent in the current government would help put money back in the pockets of Canadian families. 

She's also frustrated by how so many good ideas are tossed aside.

"Doctors who are clients of mine have great ideas on how they could reduce waiting times and how they can improve care, but the system that they work in doesn’t permit it."

"I've listened to Bernier on Health Care and he says they're giving more and more money to the provinces. I know for a fact that most of that money goes to administration, not for client care."

"So we have to break down some of the regulations and listen to people that are in these industries and in these fields."

She mocks the Progressive Conservative's recent promise to eliminate GST on home heating bills. It amounts to a little over 40 cents a day.

"Honestly, how is that going to make your life better, especially when you're facing big-ticket items like retirement and tuition for your children? It's time we had meaningful conversations about having a better tomorrow."

She believes the PCC's flat tax initiative is the real deal and has proven to work in numerous countries. Based upon the 2016 median Canadian household income, the PPC estimates it would save families $7,000 annually in taxes.

PCC would make the first $15,000 tax-free, charge a flat tax of 15 per cent for up to $100,000, then a 25 per cent tax for income above $100,000. All are less than the current multi-layered tax regime.

She says people need to see value from the MPs they send to Ottawa.

"When I go to Ottawa, I know taxpayers will be paying my salary, so I want to add value. My value is the ideas I bring, the energy I bring, my passion, conviction and principles and the better things that I can add to their lives. If I can’t bring my ideas forward in eights years, really what am I going to add in my 9th 10th,11th, 12th or 15th-16th year?"

The light of Wellwood's life is her seven-year-old daughter. Her dad is a firefighter and her mom is a cook. She was raised in Happy Valley-Goose Bay, Labrador and treasures the small-town coziness of Cochrane. When moving to Alberta from Ottawa, she drove the province from Lethbridge in the south to the Grande Prairie area and Fort McMurray in the north before choosing Cochrane as her home.

"I grew up in a small town. I like knowing my neighbours and treating them like family."

The biggest challenge being faced by PPC is alerting Canadians to their existence, she admits. 

Wellwood says they are probably the most active party in Canada right now and have achieved a great deal in a short period of time.

"So if we can accomplish that much in four months, imagine what we could do in four years."