Whitehorse businessman Darrell Pasloski wants to represent the Yukon in the House of Commons.

The pharmacist and local owner of the two Shoppers Drug Marts in Whitehorse has announced his intention to seek the nomination of the Conservative party to run as the territory's candidate in the next federal election.

'I thrive on challenges and the ability to multitask. Really, I have a reputation at getting things done,' Pasloski told a small crowd of family, friends and party supporters in front of the S.S. Klondike this morning.

'My plan going forward is to focus my energy, my experience and my passion to succeed, to become Yukon's next member of Parliament.'

Pasloski, 46, has lived in the Yukon for 16 years and, with his wife, Tammie, has four children ranging in age from 14 to 22.

An active volunteer, Pasloski has served as official's chair for hockey during the 2007 Canada Winter Games, served on the Vanier Catholic Secondary School Council, the Whitehorse Glacier Bears Swim Club and the MacBride Museum Society.

Pasloski has also held the position of director with Swim Yukon, been a master swim official and a hockey coach.

'I'm a not lifelong politician,' said Pasloski. 'I have been working very hard for the last 20 years to run and develop a successful business, to raise my family and to be involved in my community.'

Pasloski has been active with the Conservative Party of Canada for about a year and only held a party membership for about that long as well.

Though new to politics, he said, he has always been conservative in his line of thinking and feels the party best represents who he is as a person.

Pasloski pointed to cracking down on crime, the gun registry, young families, health care, the environment and the economy as some of the key areas of concern he has already heard from Yukoners.

'I really feel it's time for Yukon again to have a strong voice on the national stage and a big step to achieving that is for Yukoners to elect a member of Parliament who will sit on the government side of the House,' said Pasloski.

He said he was approached about putting forward his name for the party's nomination. He did 'due diligence' and discussed the decision with family and friends as well as speaking to other Yukoners about it.

His announcement isn't an indication an election is coming, but a matter of being prepared, he said. He believes Canadians will give Prime Minister Stephen Harper a mandate to govern with a majority following the next federal election.

'Stephen Harper is a great leader. He says what he means and he does what he says and he's also willing to make the difficult decisions,' he said.

Pasloski said the Yukon's current member of Parliament, Larry Bagnell, is 'a nice guy', but he feels his skills and family values would provide the territory with a new perspective in government.

'I will use my skills and determination to be an effective voice at the table where decisions are made,' he said. What I bring to the table is my ability to run a business and everything associated with running a successful business: people management, fiscal responsibility.'

Pasloski said he sees himself as a winner and sets his sights on achieving his goals.

'I will do what it takes to achieve that goal,' he said. 'I think it's important to make this step now and to let people know what my intentions are and what my goals are.'

A Conservative has not held the Yukon seat in the House of Commons since Erik Nielsen stepped down in 1987.

Bagnell has represented the territory since 2000 when he defeated NDP MP Louise Hardy by just 70 votes.

He went on to convincingly win the last two federal elections, taking 48.2 per cent of the vote in January 2006. Conservative candidate Sue Greetham finished 3,481 ballots behind Bagnell.

The last two national campaigns have seen the Conservatives put forth their contender late in the game.

'I think we have been at a disadvantage in the past by not being ready when the writ was dropped and that's part of the reason that I'm here today,' said Pasloski, 'so that Yukoners know that we want to have a great candidate and we are really looking forward to winning this riding.'

Rick Tone, the Yukon's Conservative party president, agreed having a candidate before an election is called will be a huge help to the party.

'(Previously) the candidates don't have time to get known throughout the territory, to talk to people about their policies, to just sit down with people over a coffee and ask them what their priorities are,' said Tone.

'It's a huge advantage for someone like Larry (Bagnell), who is going out and meeting people every day and is such a well-known person,' he said.

The best thing for the Conservative party is to have its candidate out there and getting to know people early, added Tone.

'This is a guy who I think is worthy of our support,' he said of Pasloski. 'We won't be left behind again. We are going to be a very fierce competitor for the seat.'

Interest in the Conservative party is growing in the territory, he said, with the membership swelling from 90 people to more than 180 in recent months.

'We're definitely better organized. We've been working on our strategies and getting a candidate and building our organization quietly behind the scenes for several months.'

Tone said it is hoped other Yukoners will still put their names forward for the Conservative nomination, adding such a contest is good for the party.

The nomination meeting will likely occur in late June.