Wildrose leader Brian Jean and PC Party leader Jason Kenney will be guest speakers at a rally in support of the conservative unity movement July 3.
The event will be held at the Cochrane Legion, beginning at 7 p.m. and is hosted by grassroots conservative unity movement support group Alberta Can’t Wait (ACW).
“From my perspective it’s too important that we get all conservative-minded people together to replace the NDP in the next election,” said Banff-Airdrie Conservative MP Blake Richards, who will be one of the presenters at the July 3 event, hosted by ACW co-founder Prem Singh.
Richards feels unity is imperative and does not want to “take the chance” with a split vote in the event both parties do not ratify a unity deal next month.
If ever there was a time for conservatives of all stripes to come together – that time is July 22, according to Owen Neal, co-captain of Alberta Can’t Wait (ACW).
“The election is won now – not in 2019 … don’t sit on your hands and wait,” said Neal, with reference to the referendum on July 22 that will determine whether the PC and Wildrose parties will move forward with folding the two parties and launching the United Conservative Party of Alberta.
“It’s a very big deal … this is an important step in making sure we end the NDP,” said Neal, emphasizing the importance in people purchasing memberships to both parties for “twice the vote” in favour of unity.
With respect to the unity movement, Banff-Cochrane NDP MLA Cameron Westhead said he is “focused on his job, getting results, making life better for people here and representing my constituency – not on what Brian Jean and Jason Kenney are up to.”
This week, Kenney has accused NDP supporters of buying membership to the two opposing conservative parties in an effort to shut down the unity movement.
The PCs requires 50 per of its members to vote in favour of the unity deal and the Wildrose requires 75 per cent.
Should the unity agreement be ratified next month, the leader of the United Conservative Party of Alberta would be elected on Oct. 28.
