Nearing this year's federal election, a new candidate has announced his bid for nomination by the Conservative Party in the Cypress Hills-Grasslands area.

Sean Checkley is a rancher and grain farmer from Fox Valley, Saskatchewan, and said that he would be a good match for the position the current Cypress Hills-Grasslands MP, David Anderson, is leaving behind.

He has been active in the oil and gas industry in Fox Valley and surrounding area, and also has leadership experience in that area as well.

"I've been involved with the Village Council of Fox Valley since 2009, and I've been mayor since 2011, which also gives me great understanding of the needs that municipal governments need, and the challenges they face when it comes to things like infrastructure, or regulation, or economics."

He spoke on the issues he would represent in Ottawa.

"We want our kids to grow up in their hometowns and come back and live in these communities, whether it's Swift Current, or my home community of Fox Valley, or a community like Beechy or Kyle. We want those communities to be strong, we need them to be strong, and we need industry, we need opportunity for employment, and we need these voices, like myself, to make this strong impact in Ottawa so that our industries are taken care of instead of being under attack."

Checkley said that his diverse experience would give him the ability to relate to everybody in the riding.

He said that Anderson would be a tough act to follow.

"David was a great MP for Cypress Hills-Grasslands. He was MP for a very long time as we're all aware, and did just a terrific job representing us in Ottawa. It will be large shoes to fill, but I feel that I'm capable, and have the experience to do that."

The federal election kicks off on October 21, 2019.