The MP for Banff-Airdrie says 2019 didn't shape out to be the year that he was hoping it would be.

Blake Richards says the year didn't go exactly as planned because of the election in October "First thing would of been I was hoping we might have had a change in Government, that was probably the big thing for the year. 2019 didn't quite turn out that we got that but we did get a bit of a change. We got a minority Government and that obviously gives some opportunity for things to look a little different and we'll be pushing hard in 2020 to make sure that they do.

He says people out east aren't fully informed about what's going on in Alberta he says "One of the things I learned through 2019 in all the time I spent campaigning across our Country, that I've heard it said many times here that people say I don't think anyone out East cares about us, and I don't think that's true. In fact I'm more convinced than ever that that's not true because what I heard over and over again was that people just didn't know."

Richards says he's got a main goal in mind heading into 2020 "We've got to fight for Albertan's and their jobs and our natural resources that provide those jobs. So I think really to try to get that message out all across the country, it's so important. So that will be without question my number one focus." 

He says he will continue to push for Motion 110 in the house in the new year. Motion 110 is aimed at improving the level of compassion and support for parents who have suffered the loss of an infant.

On a lighter note Richards says over the next few days he will try to get ready for the holidays. He says he hasn't had the chance to get his Christmas tree up quite yet but that will happen soon. He also says he is going to try to be more proactive with his Christmas shopping and try to get it done before Christmas Eve.