Years of experience in the financial services industry has enabled Diana Cabott to see first-hand the extent to which government legislature can impact Canadian citizens; this has inspired her and, as a result, she’s now seeking her own seat in Parliament for the riding of Kelowna-Lake Country in British Columbia

The 60-year-old Liberal Party of Canada candidate felt particularly pushed into action upon witnessing the impacts of the Conservative government’s move to tax income trusts on Oct. 31, 2006.

“People would come into my office and show me how much money they had lost,” Cabott says. At the time, she was a branch manager with Western Financial Group, the largest insurance broker network in Western Canada. “It’s given me a really good understanding of what’s happened to the clients that were hurt with the income trust tax.”

Other government action — or lack thereof — has hit even closer to home for Cabott. Forestry is a major industry in her riding; and she says although the industry is in “shambles,” the government has failed to lend a hand.

“We need help desperately,” she says, pointing to such challenges as reduced demand for lumber in the U.S., the pinewood beetle crisis and the impact of the softwood lumber dispute.

Roughly 13,000 jobs have been lost in the industry, Cabott says: “Lots of families here have already been hurt.”

Cabott is keen to address these issues in this election. She’s a strong advocate of the Liberals’ proposal to cut the tax on income trusts from 31.5% to 10% and to make that 10% tax refundable. She is also confident that a Liberal government would help the forestry industry and its workers.

The state of the Canadian economy in general is also a major concern for Cabott. “There have been so many things that have happened in the past two and a half years that I am very, very worried about our economy,” she said.

Her career in financial services, from which she retired ealier this year, involved insurance industry experience at Canada Life and a number of roles with Western Financial Group, including financial advisor to several of the branches.

Cabott also has widespread experience in the Lake Country community, including roles such as chairwoman of the Economic Development Commission and founding director of the Chamber of Commerce.

Having seen strong support from her community so far in this election, Cabott believes she has a shot at beating Conservative incumbent Ron Cannan. If she wins, Cabott says she’s eager to give the community a voice in the federal government — something she notes it has lacked since the last election.

“Harper muzzles his members of Parliament,” Cabott says. “I am looking forward to being our MP and being a voice in Ottawa.”