Unity’s a go. Now the real work begins.
Members of the Wildrose and Progressive Conservative (PC) parties each voted 95 percent to merge into the United Conservative Party (UCP).
Grande Prairie-Smoky MLA Todd Loewen (File Photo)
Grande Prairie-Smoky Wildrose MLA Todd Loewen says it’s clear that the excitement for a united alternative to the governing NDP is there.
“95 percent from each party, now that’s a pretty clear mandate for both sides,” he told the Trending 55 Newsroom. “It’s obviously what the people wanted. Now there’ll be lots of things happening politically through the summer, as well as in the early fall.”
To start with, 29 MLAs (22 Wildrose and 7 PCs) are meeting at 1 PM on Monday, July 24, 2017 to choose who will become interim leader.
Loewen says he will be supporting Wildrose House Leader and Olds-Didsbury-Three Hills MLA Nathan Cooper for the position.
“Nathan is really experienced when it comes to parliamentary procedure,” said Loewen. “He’s great to have in the legislature. He’s also an honest, hardworking man who will really serve us well.”
When asked who he will be supporting in the October 28, 2017 race for permanent leader, he refused to say.
“I do have somebody in mind for the contest,” Loewen did say. “But for now, I don’t think I’ll be announcing that as of yet.”
Also running for interim leader of the UCP is Prasad Panda, the Wildrose MLA for Calgary-Foothills, as well as Calgary-Fish Creek Tory MLA Richard Gotfried.
For permanent leader, Wildrose Leader and Fort McMurray MLA Brian Jean and Calgary lawyer Doug Schweitzer have both already announced their candidacies for the position. Tory boss Jason Kenney is expected to follow suit soon. As well, reports say that Strathmore-Brooks Wildrose MLA Derek Fildebrandt, a former Alberta Director with the Canadian Taxpayers Federation, is also considering a run.
But one Tory MLA has decided he will not be joining the new UCP caucus.
In a statement on his Facebook page, Vermilion-Lloydminster MLA Richard Starke, who finished second for the Alberta Tory leadership in March, said he first joined the PCs in order to embrace the Red Tory values as expressed by late former premier Peter Lougheed.
Tory MLA Richard Starke announced via social media he won’t join the new united party. (Photo/Alberta PC Party)
“At the conclusion of the PC Leadership campaign, I was assured that my voice and those of the people who supported me would be welcomed by the new leadership,” Starke said. “I took that assurance in good faith. My experience, and that of many like-minded party members who have left or been driven from the party, is that our views are not welcome, and that the values and principles we believe in will not be part of the new party going forward.”
He further said that he had no way of knowing if the leadership and policies of the new party aligns with his values and principles, resulting in his decision.
“I have informed the Speaker and the Legislative Assembly Office of my intentions (to remain sitting as a Progressive Conservative),” said Starke. “My first responsibility remains unchanged, which is to represent (my constituents) with the commitment and integrity they deserve.”
– Posted by BET
