Jean wants photo radar put to vote

A leadership candidate for the new United Conservative Party is promising Albertans a vote on whether to have photo radar in their communities.

The pledge is part of what Brian Jean is calling his “Protecting Freedom and Democracy” policy.

Jean is campaigning to head the party made up of former Progressive Conservative and Wildrose members.

He says Alberta is the only province that allows photo radar in every municipality, as well as mobile speed cameras outside construction and school zones.

He also says a United Conservative government under his leadership would give voters the power to recall their member of the legislature.

Former PC leader Jason Kenney and conservative strategist Doug Schweitzer have also said they will run for the top job to be decided with a vote on Oct. 28.

“We will let voters have their say on photo radar cash grabs across the province (and) give Albertans the power to recall MLAs in between elections,” Jean said in a release Wednesday.

He said a United Conservative government would also protect free speech on university campuses to ensure protesters could not silence speakers or groups.

Jean also plans to try to renegotiate the amount of money Alberta contributes to federal equalization transfer payments.

The United Conservative Party won’t become an official political party until papers are filed with Elections Alberta, but it was recognized Tuesday as the official Opposition by the Speaker of the legislature.