Toone running for Independence Party in Livingstone-Macleod

By Rob Vogt
The Independence Party has nominated their candidate in Livingstone-Macleod, which includes Claresholm, Stavely and the Municipal District of Willow Creek, for the upcoming provincial election in May.
The party has chosen Claresholm native Corrie Toone, who said elected officials have dropped the ball.
“They forgot they’re public servants,” he said in an interview on April 21. “They think we work for them.
“I think they’re getting progressively worse.”
Toone looks at the increasing cost of living, and wonders what four more years is going to entail.
He points to the lockdowns imposed to prevent the spread of the COVID-19 virus.
“I think the government over reacted,” Toone said.
He noted businesses were shut down and lay offs occurred. Meanwhile, politicians took a pay raise.
So he got active in the United Conservative Party and tried to get them sorted out, but became increasingly frustrated.
Then someone asked him to run for the Independence Party. More people phoned him encouraging him to run, so he realized he had to run.
“I can’t complain if I don’t put my name out there,” Toone said.
So he got the necessary number of signatures, and more; was interviewed; had a background check; and is now on the campaign trail.
Toone was born and raised in Claresholm, is married and has two children.
He worked in the oil patch from the age of 18 until 2015, then at a local car dealership before venturing to Southern California to train in paintless dent repair. He now has his own business, and also has a small operation running some cows.
“I want to bring common sense back to every day decision making,” Toone said.
He observed everyone has had to do more with less, but the government didn’t do that. Plus, everything the government does is slow and expensive.
His party’s platform is about smaller government; accountability with government; reforming health care, which Toone calls a disaster; and addressing the rising cost of living.
If he is elected, he would like to have offices in High River and Pincher Creek, hold as many town halls as he can, and talk to people face-to-face.
Toone said someone is needed who is strong-willed, and represents the views of the constituents.
“I take those views to the legislature and hopefully make a difference,” he said.
Toone said he has observed people are frustrated with all aspects of government, and are just trying to get by.
“I’m in the same boat as most people,” he said.
Toone went down to Coutts for the protests last year, and said it was a very patriotic event.
“You could tell a lot of people had hope again,” he said, adding next to getting married and having children it was one of the highlights of his life.
“Our elected officials have let us down badly,” Toone said. “There’s got to be a change.”