Whitehorse resident Joseph Zelezny has been acclaimed by the Yukon-People’s Party of Canada (PPC) Association executive to represent the Yukon riding in October’s federal election.

With (party leader) Maxime Bernier’s example, “it is time to stand up and fight for freedom since it directly relates to prosperity,” Zelezny said in a statement today.

It’s time to act responsibly and be fair, respectful, and to restore Canada to its former glory; a nation built on unity Canadians can be proud of,” Zelezny added.

“A nation that innovates and leads the world in energy, technology, health, environment, science, space, agriculture and industry,” the statement said.

“I am proud and excited to be representing Maxime Bernier’s People’s Party of Canada in the riding of Yukon,” Zelezny said.

“Maxime’s voice and message represent the opinions and perspectives of thousands of Canadians across the country who feel like the traditional political parties have ignored them in favour of political posturing and pandering.

“It is critical that the Constitution be respected to enable a nation where all Canadians can prosper. When prosperity abounds, we can then help solve other problems to ensure the continuous progress.”

Zelezny has been endorsed by Mike Nixon, a former Yukon Party cabinet minister.

“Joseph’s knowledge and support of the People’s Party of Canada’s stance on policies and promoting the betterment of Canadians, is impressive,” Nixon said today.

“He has proven to be hardworking, dedicated and loyal to the Yukon. Both Joseph and Maxime Bernier have earned my support in the upcoming federal election.”

“Countless times, I’ve thought to myself, ‘Canada could and should be the most prosperous nation on Earth – we are blessed with so much abundance of natural resources and amazing people from all over the world,’” Zelezny said.

“Why is our economy and hope for a prosperous and free future being destroyed?”

He said he has witnessed the politics of late deteriorate much of what once made Canada a world class destination to live, work, travel to and admire for just how free and prosperous all Canadians made it so.

He describes himself as a principled advocate for freedom, free markets, health and fiscal responsibility.

Zelezny was born to immigrant parents who came to Canada for a better life after escaping the communist regime in eastern Europe in the 1980s. He grew up in Ontario and later in British Columbia.

Learning to understand the value of money and being appreciative of how challenging it was to save enough through hard work to enable him to travel were critical in his formative years, he said.

After several years of studying political science, hstory, communications and international relations in B.C. and Europe, Zelezny set his focus on a certificate of technical studies program at BCIT to become a network administrator technician.

He then continued his studies at the Justice Institute and has been pursuing a Bachelor of Emergency and Security Management Studies on a part-time basis. He has paused those studies to focus on his work and this campaign.

Zelezny has had jobs ranging from coaching gymnastics and trampoline, to construction, operating a gardening and landscaping business, as well as working for Elections Canada and elections BC.

With IT as his passion, he has held various roles and consulting contracts, ranging from working at Simon Fraser University to working in the oilsands for several construction management and oil and gas companies, followed later by roles in a power generating company and in the telecommunications sector.

“It was during the last three years that Joseph began to discover how and why economic conditions have changed so rapidly when one day everything seemed to be going well for countless Canadians and then, in very short time, countless Canadians fell on hard times and haven’t recovered since,” said the statement announcing his candidacy.

“This research took him in some unexpected paths to eventually discover a passion for finding solutions not only for IT problems, but rather for the woes that ail countless Canadians today and to help fix and ensure a more prosperous Canada.”

That led to his joining the PPC, first as the president of the Yukon Electoral District Association and now as the candidate for the Yukon.

Bernier, a Quebec-based former Conservative MP and cabinet minister under Stephen Harper, formed the PCP after losing the Conservatives’ leadership race to Andrew Scheer. He remains an MP.

The other Yukon candidates for October’s election are incumbent Liberal Larry Bagnell, Conservative Jonas Smith and New Democrat Justin Lemphers.