Jean sees Wildrose framework as solid
Says structure best for united party
As talks around conservative unification head toward their initial deadline, Brian Jean says he’s still behind the idea a new united party should be built on Wildrose’s legal framework.
Jean, the Wildrose leader, and Jason Kenney, the new Progressive Conservative leader, agreed in March to form a discussion group with representatives of each party, who were to report back to members in four to six weeks.
Friday will mark six weeks since the group, which does not include Jean or Kenney, was named.
Speaking to reporters at the legislature Tuesday, Jean downplayed the looming target.
“We were quite flexible in relationship to the timeline ... this is in the range,” he said.
“We’re very hopeful, we’re very positive right now and we’re looking forward to their work being completed and an agreement being put toward our members. We’re certainly not going to rush something so quickly as to do it wrong.”
Jean said in January he was behind the idea of pursuing unity of the two right-of-centre parties — and that he would step down to run for the new entity’s leadership — but with the caveat that “we must preserve Wildrose’s legal framework as the foundation for a single consolidated conservative party.”
He said at the time it made sense for PC members to join Wildrose, which would likely be rebranded, since it had more assets and a better constitution.
Jean said Tuesday he still believes Wildrose should serve as the legal structure for the new entity.
“I think that’s the way it will be best accepted by our members,” he said.
“Ultimately, I do believe that structure protects the members of the new entity, even if they are, for instance, previous PC members or previous other members from other political parties.”
Wildrose later issued a clarification, saying that Jean was referring to Wildrose’s incorporation under the Societies Act, as opposed to the PC’s unincorporated status.
“That type of structure should be preserved,” Jean said in a statement.
“I trust the work of the unity discussion group and the wisdom of the members to decide the future of our party and the Wildrose team, and I remain committed to negotiating in good faith and not through the media in public.”
Kenney, who won the PC leadership in March on a platform of uniting the two parties, declined an interview request but issued a statement.
“Progress is being made on a prospective unity agreement. I will not be negotiating in public, as that would be counter-productive.
“My commitment is to achieving a unity agreement that will win the support of a strong majority of members of both parties.”