Whether you backed Brian Jean or stood with Jason Kenney, Alberta conservatives of all stripes have spoken loud and clear in favour of unity.
The results of the unprecedented July 22 referendum were a landslide 95 per cent decision in favour of unity from both the PC and Wildrose Party members – solidifying the dissolution of both conservative parties and the ratification of the United Conservative Party (UCP) of Alberta.
While entrance into the leadership race is already ramping up, the two founding parties of the UCP have appointed Olds-Didsbury-Three Hills Wildrose MLA Nathan Cooper as the interim leader.
Jean has already stepped down from the Wildrose helm and put his name in for the UCP leadership – to be elected Oct. 28 – while PC leader Kenney is anticipated to make his debut this weekend.
“This is quite the repudiation of the NDP’s record in government so far. If I was a local NDP backbencher, I’d be pretty spooked by how motivated Albertans are to turf this government,” said Morgan Nagel, a Cochrane town councillor who also served as digital communications manager on the Kenney campaign team.
He remarked on the “hundreds of volunteers” who have rolled up their sleeves to help the team as a solid indication that the unity movement has support at the grassroots level.
“This is a new chance for free-enterprise conservatives to focus on creating economic opportunity. We’re moving beyond the perceived arrogance of the PCs and more extreme elements of parts of the Wildrose to create something new that reflects mainstream Albertans. This is about establishing a new party with a pro-growth agenda.”
Shannan Thiessen, who has lived in Cochrane for six years, says she is concerned that another term of NDP would be detrimental to the province.
“I don’t think the NDP’s policies are making it possible for Albertans as a whole to be prosperous,” she said, highlighting the provincial carbon tax, the “mass exodus” of petroleum investors leaving the province and the minimum wage hike as examples.
“They woke us up and they put us out of work,” said Thiessen of Rachel Notley’s government.
Thiessen said the recall that is built into the UCP’s founding principles will be what give constituents the ability to vote MLAs out of office if they are “no longer listening to us.”
Not all conservatives, however, are supportive of the UCP formation – with some former members of each party coming out this week expressing their lack of support for the UCP, indicating that the formation of a “new right-wing party” will further divide voters and leave centrists with fewer options than before.
Banff-Canmore NDP MLA Cameron Westhead said the UCP “may be celebrating a bit too soon … they’re not offering alternatives for Albertans.”
Westhead views the “move to the extreme right” as a step backward for the province – noting that the caucus of the newly-formed party demonstrates a gender imbalance and is indicative that “these people don’t support diversity, the LGBTQ community or people with disabilities.”
He added that the populous is continuing to vote with their pocketbooks – with the NDP bringing in the most fundraised dollars in the second quarter.
The coming weeks will unveil which candidates will be vying for the leadership.
Calgary lawyer Doug Schweitzer, 38, has officially tossed his name in the ring – announcing his intentions prior to the unity vote and looking to appear to moderate voters with his self-described stance as a “fiscal conservative” and “social moderate.”
There is also talk that Derek Fildebrandt is considering a possible candidacy.
The outspoken 31-year-old with policies that align with libertarianism launched his support for unity through his “United Liberty” concept – which will push for the UCP to adopt a policy to launch a Supreme. Court challenge to determine if Alberta’s equalization ratio is “fair and legal.”
