It will be the first entry into federal politics for the 33-year-old Oakville resident, who’s married with a young daughter. His first appearance as candidate will be this Saturday at a reception for Green Party leader Elizabeth May.

The association described Gilgan as being interested in sustainable community design and building practices as well as introducing permaculture to the local infrastructure in Halton. Permaculture, a combination of the words permanent and agriculture, is “an agricultural system or method that seeks to integrate human activity with natural surroundings so as to create highly efficient self-sustaining ecosystems,” according to Webster’s dictionary.

Gilgan has attended the University of Western Ontario, the International Academy of Design and Dundas Valley School of the Arts, according to the association. He is currently self-employed in the home building and land development industry.

Gilgan’s father, Peter Gilgan, is a prominent Halton resident as the owner of one of Canada’s largest homebuilders, Mattamy Homes, which was named after Matt and his sister Amy.

With Gilgan’s acclamation, the four major parties now appear to have candidates lined up for the next election.

In late September, the NDP acclaimed Pat Heroux as its candidate. Liberal Party leader Michael Ignatieff appointed Deborah Gillis as the party’s candidate in Halton. The current sitting MP is Conservative Lisa Raitt, the government’s Minister of Natural Resources.