Brad Redekopp, Conservative Party of Canada

Personal details. Name, age, hometown

Brad Redekopp, 54, Yorkton.

Tell us about yourself

I am a small-business owner and entrepreneur who has lived in the Saskatoon area for 35 years. I received my commerce degree from the University of Saskatchewan as well as my CMA (now CPA) accounting designation. I spent 20 years in finance and accounting roles in the manufacturing industry, ultimately appointed as plant controller and then plant manager for a large multinational corporation. For the last 12 years, I have owned and operated a home-building business.

I have been active in providing leadership within our community, participating in a number of boards, including The Bridge on 20th for over 17 years; 10 of those years as board chair where I spearheaded the renovation and expansion of their facility during a period of unprecedented growth. I have also volunteered with the City of Saskatoon Housing First Committee and Ride for Refuge. Other involvements have included teaching personal finance classes and conversational English to newcomers in the community.

Additionally, I have been involved with the Conservative Party during election campaigns and with local EDA boards. I served as official agent for three elections and have been an active EDA board member and financial agent.

I am married to Cheryl and together we have raised two sons, Kyle and Eric.

What’s a little-known fact about you?

I have my pilot’s licence.

Why should voters hire you?

I am an experienced businessman with the skills and character to be a great representative in Ottawa. I care about Saskatoon and want to see people from all walks of life succeed.

Who should we call for a reference?

People who have worked for me, customers I have built houses for, family and friends.

What is your greatest strength? What is your greatest weakness?

Strength: My accounting background means I understand numbers very well. Weakness: Chocolate brownies!

Where do you stand on:

Gun laws? We should not penalize law-abiding gun owners with ineffective gun laws. Instead we must focus gun laws on criminals who smuggle guns or use guns to commit violence.

The need for more pipelines? The world needs Canadian oil and our economy depends on it. We need to get more pipelines built to strengthen our economy and create jobs right here in Saskatoon.

Western alienation? We need a prime minister who understands the west and can help build our economy. We want to be treated fairly within Canada.

China? What should our approach be with some of our markets blocked? We need a total reset with China. We need an approach that is tough yet still allows trust to build. Once trust is back, we can work on trade agreements.

Are we facing a climate change crisis? Is carbon tax the answer? We should all be concerned about climate change. But as an environmental policy, the carbon tax is a failure. It makes virtually no contribution to the global fight against climate change and only makes life for Canadians more expensive. A Conservative government will scrap the carbon tax.

It’s a day off and you can do anything you want. What would it be?

Go to the lake and take the boat out for a spin.

Who inspires you?

My dad. He is 84 and still rides his bike 10 kilometres a day.

What is your hidden talent?

I play bass guitar.

What do you wish you could do but can’t?

Touch my toes.

Who are the three people, dead or alive, that you’d love to have dinner with?

John Diefenbaker, Winston Churchill and Bill Gates.

How do you take your coffee?

I don’t drink coffee.

What’s the one album you’d take with you on a desert island? What embarrassing song do you admit to on your playlist?

Island: Boston. Embarrassing: Avril Lavigne, Sk8er Boi.

What is your guilty pleasure?

Aforementioned chocolate brownies.

What is the last book you read?

Biography on Winston Churchill.

What is your favourite TV show? What are you binge watching?

Favourite: Sunday football. Binge: The Office.

What is your all-time favourite movie?

Tie: The Matrix and Inception.