UCP leadership hopeful Callaway proposes buying Port of Churchill in Manitoba

United Conservative Party leadership candidate Jeff Callaway added another policy concept Tuesday to his list of “big ideas.”

If elected leader, the former Wildrose Party president would push for Alberta to buy the Port of Churchill in Manitoba, thus giving Alberta oil more access to global markets through Hudson Bay.

He would couple the port purchase with fixing grain terminals and reopening the rail line shut down earlier this year — a $20-million investment he called “a small price to pay for prosperity in Western Canada.”

At his Edmonton announcement, Callaway also proposed building a new 250-barrel-per-day pipeline.

“It’s time we took control of our destiny as a province. It’s time we showed some leadership in infrastructure by securing access to tidewater,” he said.

Callaway rejected the notion that his plan would be tantamount to government dipping its toe into private industry, a concept often rejected by conservatives.

“I call this an investment in infrastructure,” he said. “This is such an integral piece of what the vision should be for Alberta that will secure our future.”

This is the second “big idea” put forward by Callaway.

He and fellow leadership candidate Jason Kenney have been critical of former Wildrose leader Brian Jean for putting forward detailed policies during the race.

Callaway denied his plans are policy, calling them “big visions” for Alberta.

“Policy is fleshing out the bones of the foundations and principles that we agreed on when we merged parties together on July 22,” he said.

Callaway said Tuesday there’s still no word on UCP leadership race rules, but he’s hearing there will be a one-member, one-vote system with a preferential ballot Oct. 28. He’s expecting the price of entering the race to be between $50,000 and $100,000 for each candidate.

The UCP leadership committee is doing its due diligence, he said, and consulting with each campaign to figure out a process that’s best for the party, its members, and engages the most Albertans.

“I think I’d rather them come to a right decision than a fast decision”

Jean and leadership candidate Doug Schweitzer paid a non-refundable $10,000 deposit to get access to the party’s 87,000 members.

Janice Harrington, the party’s interim executive director, said the money will be put toward the candidates’ entry fees.