Two Caledon residents have joined the race to become the Progressive Conservative candidate in the new provincial riding of Dufferin-Caledon.

Caledon councillor Jim Wallace announced his candidacy Tuesday night, a few days after Lynne Moore became the second woman to throw her hat in the ring.

Mr. Wallace's intentions were announced at the Belfountain Inn, which he and his wife Susan own.

He told a packed house of supporters, business leaders and family friends that he will not run in this fall's municipal election.

Echoing a theme of PC Leader John Tory, Mr.Wallace said his approach to government is that it "must be run more business-like, with accountability and responsiveness to the changing market conditions of the region as top priorities." He also recognized that politicians must balance social service needs within the economic scope of the province.

"Our transportation network is inadequate. Our local roads are being used as a commuter network and the Liberals have no plan in place to deal with this - in fact, not within the next 10 years," he said.

"By that time, Caledon will have another 15,000 residents and surrounding municipalities will have grown exponentially. Just imagine the negative quality of life issues that result from this lack of planning for both the business community and residents."

He said he will "champion a plan that will see Highway 10 widened through Caledon Village and a strategic plan for 400-series highways that will move goods and services and people efficiently through our community."

The Wallace campaign will be managed by former MP John McDermid, who served in a number of portfolios in cabinets of former prime minister Brian Mulroney. Brennan Mulcahy of Caledon, CEO of Energy Savings Group and past President of the local PC riding association, will cochair the campaign.

During his three years as Ward 1 area councillor, Mr. Wallace spearheaded a number initiatives, including alternate funding sources for community and social service projects, challenging local service groups to present strategic business plans when requesting financial support from the Town, and advocating a team approach among councillors for increased synergy and achievement of ward and/or town objectives.

His business background includes 11 years in senior management with Canadian Tire Corp., five years of small business ownership, plus a degree in hospitality and tourism management and certificates in human resources and human relations from Ryerson University. He is also a charter member of Caledon West Rotary, a member of Caledon Heritage, past co-chair of Caledon's Policing Advisory Council, a member of the Caledon Library Board and a member of the Caledon Environmental Advisory Committee.

The Wallaces and their three children moved to Belfountain five years ago.

Mrs. Moore, a mother of three sons, has lived and worked with husband Jim at their Spring Hedge Farm for 24 years.

She has worked at the Superior Court trial office in the Brampton courthouse for the last 19 years and also has experience in the tourism and travel industry, corporate sales and public relations.

While she has no prior experience in politics she sees a need to have a down-to-earth representative who recognizes that Toronto is not the only place that needs support.

"There's a big province with great needs all over," she said.

Her top three concerns are roads, agriculture and youth.

"Although Toronto has more roads, it doesn't mean Highway 10 doesn't need to be improved," she said.

"Special attention needs to be given to roads - both completing 410, widening 10 and maintaining roads and bridges we have. Decisions need to be made where additional roads should be located prior to development."

As for agriculture, she stated the current government doesn't seem to care too much about it.

"I support an environment where agriculture can be profitable and promote buying Ontario produce to help make a prosperous rural economy," she said in a press release.

She would like to see more education programs available to the youth, such as a parenting classes in high school so that teens will have some knowledge of what they

should do as a parent when it comes to that time.

"It takes more than just having a child to raise one. They need guidance as they go along, which means saying no sometimes."

She also wants to make sure students who need more help with classes don't continue to be passed over until it's too late.

"It's the frustrated kids who get left behind that end up in the criminal justice system. They're our future."

She also wants to see more rural representation at Queen's Park, suggesting that few MPPs have knowledge about living in rural areas.

"As a member of this community my interest is in having a provincial government that is interested in representing the entire province, including rural Ontario and not just Toronto, as it is now. Small towns and communities are becoming fragile with a weakening of the rural economy as agriculture continues to face its most challenging years with little or no support from the government."

As for the Greenbelt, which to her is spurring urban development, she thinks the province should purchase the farmland at the going rate.

"It's a matter of being fair," she said, noting that the Greenbelt Act has devalued some property owners' land.

"The Greenbelt needs to be adjusted taking science into consideration and not be just a piece of land where highways, dumps and urban infrastructure will make their home. Land should instead be

protected where agricultural infrastructure is still available to the farmer."

Ms. Moore has chaired both the school council and Community School Association for Credit View Public School, sat as the director at Herb Campbell Community School Association, coached t-ball and softball in Cheltenham, coached junior curling at Brampton and Acton curling clubs.

The nomination campaign is expected to involve at least four candidates. Sylvia Jones, who has served as executive assistant to Mr. Tory and his two predecessors as local MPP, announced her candidacy last month and Orangeville Mayor Drew Brown has indicated he, too, will seek the nomination.

Mr. Tory, who won Dufferin Peel-WellingtonGrey after the seat was vacated by former PC leader Ernie Eves, recently confirmed his muchearlier decision to seek a seat in Toronto.