The Alberta Party is looking to confirm political candidates for all 87 ridings in the province over the next few weeks to ready for a looming spring election that they feel is anybody's game. "My goal is to have all of our candidates in place by the end of January," said executive director Mark Taylor, whose political history includes being a candidate in the 2015 Calgary-Foothills byelection and for the party and previously with the Wildrose Party under Danielle Smith. With three seats in the Alberta Legislature, the centrist party under the leadership of Stephen Mandel, is mindful of the upset NDP victory in 2015 and the message that was sent by voters when more than four decades of former PC Party reign came crumbling down. With respect to the Airdrie-Cochrane riding, Taylor confirmed that the party has had some interest and inquiries from individuals curious to step into the ring and run under the banner of the third-ranking provincial party. "I don't think there's any riding that belongs to one party ... the people collectively stood up (in 2015) and said we're tired of arrogance and we're cleaning house." Historically more of a right-wing party, the Alberta Party merged with progressive Renew Alberta in 2010 and has since become a centrist party that aims to steer toward pragmatism over ideology, with a wag of a finger to the increasing divisiveness between the NDP and UCP. Core party values include diversifying the economy, developing a vision to support the energy sector, boosting the education system, support for the aging population, educating children for the future, creating an ambitious growth plan for rural Alberta, and creating less government regulation and interference for small business. Like the other political parties, the candidate vetting process includes an extensive questionnaire, which is followed by interviews at the local constituency association level and at the provincial committee. A social media history search is also conducted. Taylor said, by nature, the party has a natural filtering of candidates who are extreme right or left on the spectrum – those candidates "naturally drift" to the other parties. "We're trying to put together a slate of candidates that best represents Albertans." On small business, the party is focused on restoring the entrepreneurial spirit and re-engaging the small business community – particularly with the state of the energy sector. The party, under former leader Greg Clark, has been highly critical of the minimum wage hike adding $15/hour is an arbitrary number that is ideologically-driven. On oil, Taylor explained that the Alberta Party was the first to call for curtailment and were "disappointment the NDP had notice in the spring" and did nothing. He emphasized the party maintains pipelines must be built, with frustrations over the Energy East delays and the need for Trans Mountain – what he chalks up to the result of "too many people too focused on political gamesmanship." On social issues, Taylor said that UCP members walking out on Bill 9 – to protect women's choice in accessing abortion services free of harassment – sends the message that they aren't listening to what matters to half the population. "Alberta isn't just a collection of taxpayers ... there isn't a home for that (bigotry, discrimination) in Alberta anymore. Maybe there never was, but quietly is was OK," he said, adding that it doesn't have to be one or the other when it comes to a strong economy and a social network. The UCP selected its candidate last for the Airdirie-Cochrane riding month – businessman Peter Guthrie of Cochrane. The NDP recently announced its first potential candidate – 29-year-old father of three Steve Durrell, whose Telus career has sparked a passion for labour rights. He is yet to be challenged and the party plans to finalize its candidate for the riding by the end of January. To learn more, volunteer or inquire about potential candidacy, visit albertaparty.ca.
