Restaurant mogul T.J. Grewal said he's had two aspirations in life: making it in business and politics. With millions under his belt, he's turning his attention to the newly vacant Cariboo-Prince George riding.
"I think I've done well in business and now it's time to try the political road," said Grewal in an interview announcing his application to become a Tory candidate in a race.
The 50-year-old businessman who in owns 23 restaurants, including 10 in Prince George and a Subway in Mackenzie. His wife owns two subways in Williams Lake.
"It wasn't given to me," said the Indo-Canadian, who emigrated to Prince George in 1977. He worked in Alberta for 10 years, but returned to Prince George in 1994.
Business acumen is what Grewal said sets him apart from the other candidates economist Nick Fedorkiw, Vanderhoof teacher Gerald Caron, and the perceived front runners: Todd Doherty, who was backed by outgoing longtime MP Dick Harris; and current Mayor Shari Green, who is expected to announce her candidacy Wednesday.
"It all comes down to whether you've been successful at what you've been doing, whether you have stuck around to your business principles. I feel that I am better than those two with my business background, with my community involvement, and giving back to the community."
Grewal stressed the need for population growth in a community stuck at 80,000 and said bringing in big projects is the way to boost Prince George's numbers. He pointed to pipeline and LNG initiatives as key to that growth, and said his strengths lie in fiscal budgets and support for free trade.
"I have experience working with the B.C government, working with the municipal government and I've done large and small business projects," Grewal said. "I understand business, I understand budgets. I know how to work with people. I've been a strong supporter of the community in terms of charitable donations, volunteering, helping out sports organization.
"I have the experience to bring people together."
Though his official announcement came Wednesday, the father of two has been campaigning and collecting cards for voting members since June. In that time, his group of 20 door-knockers has collected some 500 paying members, though he expects a shoe-in nominee will need triple that.
"They like the fact that I'm successful and that I would make a good MP," said Grewal of his supporters, adding he has signed up members who have never held a Conservative card, or are changing party allegiances. "I'm not carrying any baggage.
"Now they're coming over with me because they believe in me," said Grewal, who has dreams of being in the cabinet. "That should be attractive to Conservatives, that should be attractive to the selection committee is well."
But Grewal's candidacy may be a numbers game out of his control - he is one week shy of being a six-month member, which is the cut-off according to the Conservative constitution to be considered for candidacy.
The party has been in touch with him, and told him to submit a waiver with his nomination package, due Nov. 13. In it he must explain the gap and why the rule should be waived.
"I do not see an issue. It's not like a I just became a Conservative member. I was a member before as well as served on the Electoral District Association," he said, referring to his time as secretary in 2011 to 2012, when he was a card-carrying member.
The deadline for membership cards is Nov. 20 and the party has not declared a voting date, though it must be held 42 to 45 days after the nomination opened on Oct. 30.
Grewal said he's had his sight set on an MP spot for at least six years and started becoming politically involved more than 10 years before.
In that time he door-knocked for Liberal Nechako Lakes MLA John Rustad when he was first elected in 2005 and later did similar grassroots organization for the Tories and Pat Bell, the former MLA for Prince George-Mackenzie. He describes himself as a provincial Liberal and helped during Christy Clark's leadership race. He also donated $3,000 to the provincial NDP in April 2013.
That, he said, was a donation based on friendship rather than ideology, for former Prince George-Mackenzie NDP candidate Bobby Deepak.
"That was the only time that I provided support to NDP, was because of Bobby Deepak."
Grewal is gearing up for a tough race and said the Nov. 20 cutoff for signing up members is key.
He said it's very likely the work done in the next three weeks by candidate hopefuls will determine who is the next MP, given the riding has long been a Conservative stronghold.
"Nomination is the election," Grewal said. "You don't want to put someone in there that you will be stuck with for the next 10, 15, 20 years to come."
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