I received my Bachelor of Science from the University of Manitoba and my Master's degree in Fisheries Science from Cornell University. From December 2010 to October 2019, I was the Member of Parliament for Dauphin-Swan River-Neepawa. I served on the Standing Committees on Environment and Sustainable Development and Fisheries and Oceans. I was Chair of the Canada-Ukraine Parliamentary Friendship Group and a founding member of the All-Party Credit Union Caucus.

I have worked in several rural industries. I farmed, and my wife and I ran a small guiding and outfitting business. I also did several consulting projects and confirmed that you could have a professional career from a remote rural location. My forestry experience was as Director of Environmental Programs for the Pine Falls Paper Company. In terms of energy, I conducted environmental monitoring at an Alberta oilsands facility. Before my political career, I was an Environmental Advisor to the Province of Manitoba and a fisheries biologist in Northern Manitoba. I was an Adjunct Professor at the Rural Development Institute at Brandon University, led the Rural Renaissance Project for the Frontier Centre for Public Policy, and advised on agricultural conservation policy for the Delta Waterfowl Foundation.

In addition to my permanent home south of Riding Mountain National Park, I have lived in Pine Falls, The Pas, and Winnipeg. I have developed an understanding of the dynamics of much of Manitoba. After being involved in developing laws and policies at both the Federal and Provincial levels, I gained an appreciation for the role of government in society. Understanding public policy development and the creation of laws are vital for any business or institution to thrive.

I am an avid hunter, fly fisherman, naturalist and hunting dog trainer. I encapsulated that life in my 2014 book, 'A Life Outdoors; Essays on Hunting, Gathering, and Country Living in the 21st Century.'