He has lived in the Yukon for just two years, but Gerrard Fleming, a 57-year-old sales executive with Northwestel Inc., says he's ready to carry the Conservative Party's banner into the next federal election.

In a press release issued Wednesday afternoon, Fleming "seek(s) acceptance as the (party's) Yukon candidate.”

In an interview with the Star, Fleming said Canada needs a majority Conservative government and that the Yukon "needs to be at the table rather than sitting in Opposition.”

While Fleming's remarks are a jab at Liberal MP Larry Bagnell, the aspiring Conservative MP candidate acknowledged Bagnell would be hard to beat.

"Absolutely he will be a formidable opponent, but I'm not in this to lose. I truly think I can win,” said Fleming.

"But it's going to take a lot of work.”

Fleming said he would be in it for the long haul and is prepared to mount multiple campaigns to unseat the incumbent Bagnell.

The Liberal MP has easily held on to the riding in the previous three general elections after winning a nail-biter against then-NDP incumbent Louise Hardy in 2000 by only 70 votes.

Darrell Pasloski – who was runner-up to Bagnell in 2008 but garnered the most votes of any Conservative candidate in the Yukon since Erik Nielsen won his 11th consecutive election in 1984 – said he's undecided about making another foray into federal politics.

"I'm unclear at this point as to what I'll be doing, but I'm excited that somebody's put their name forward,” Pasloski told the Star today.

"And if it ends up being a race for the nomination, that's good as well.”

The pharmacist and former owner of Whitehorse's Shopper's Drug Mart outlets is also being courted by the Yukon Party for a potential territorial run.

"I'm weighing all my options; whether I should throw my hat in one of those political rings, or be supportive in the background or enjoy the post-Shopper's Drug Mart part of my life,” said Pasloski.

Michael Lauer, the secretary of the Conservative Party's National Council, said today party headquarters will determine when to "open the riding” for a nomination meeting that would follow 42 days after such an announcement.

Other potential candidates and those interested in voting in the nomination meeting would have 21 days to declare their candidacies or purchase party memberships.

Lauer said his position within the Conservative Party's ranks prevents him from supporting any candidate, but that Fleming is a solid contender.

"I think he'll do well to represent the Yukon as our member of Parliament and work with the government instead of standing up and complaining about what the government's doing,” said Lauer.

"But we also look forward to other potential candidates coming forward if they're interested.”

As for Fleming's interest in running in the next general election – which must take place before Oct. 15, 2012 – he's hoping his three-prong approach to addressing Yukon's "diverse and complex” needs gains some traction.

"The interdependence of economy, environment and social responsibility are as critical in the Yukon as any other province or territory,” he said.

"And being at the table where policy is being developed will secure our interests and guarantee our future.”

Born in Ontario, Fleming is a single father of three grown children and worked for Bell Mobility before taking a job with Northwestel.

Since relocating to Whitehorse, Fleming has become the chair of the Whitehorse Chamber of Commerce, a member of the Whitehorse Rotary Club, a director at the Yukon Fish and Game Association, as well as a volunteer auxiliary constable with the RCMP.

John Streicker is the Yukon's candidate for the federal Green Party of Canada.

The New Democrats in the territory have not named their candidate nor held a nomination meeting.