Kenney makes final unity push in the Hat
After making claims of NDP supporters buying memberships to vote in the PC and Wildrose dissolution ballots, PC leader says his group has recently sold thousands
At the 11th hour to purchase a membership and vote to — or not to — unite the right, Jason Kenney attracted more than 125 people at a meeting in Medicine Hat on Tuesday.
Today alone the PC party sold 2,314 memberships, with a cutoff of midnight on Wednesday in order to participate in the unity vote.
“We’ve been selling over a thousand a day for the past week,” said Kenney leader Alberta PC party. “Wildrose sold 10,000 the week prior to their cutoff. I have never seen so much electric interest in joining a political party in my whole lifetime. Because people know this is an historic decision, the first ever referendum in an Alberta political party that will decide our political future as a province.”
Kenney’s message, warmly applauded by those in attendance, was that Wildrose and PC parties helped to split the vote in the last provincial election.
Talk of potential changes to the education system under the NDP attracted strong applause for Kenney, particularly when he expressed fears that the NDP’s “political and ideological agenda” will be introduced in schools. He warned that giving the NDP a second term in office will change the future of democracy in Alberta.
“Fight to get Alberta Back,” said Kenney.
Terence Kowalchuk said he had not been involved in politics for more than 10 years. He claims the NDP government has been making decisions that are negatively impacting his life and it convinced him to get involved again, and he even brought his young children to the event.
“I support Jason Kenney and his vision for our province and his leadership,” said Kowalchuk.
Kenney addressed past dissatisfaction with the PC party. Some of the past mistakes related to a style of leadership that was “arrogant.” He said there is an opportunity to learn from those mistakes.
“It is time to bury the hatchet, park the ego, put Alberta first,” he said.
Voting in the unity referendum will take place for members of the PC and Wildrose Party members starting on July 20 and will culminate on July 22. Voting will be done online and by telephone. To qualify you must have a membership purchased before the deadline.
The PC party requires 50 per cent plus one vote in favour and the Wildrose requires 75 per cent in favour for it to pass.
An approved process for voting to ensure the integrity and security of the vote was established in June at a meeting by the board of directors. Members will register and receive a unique personal identification number (PIN) that will be key to voting.