It’s official: UCP joins Alberta political scene
Cypress-Medicine Hat MLA Drew Barnes mulling leadership run
The newest political party in Alberta, the United Conservative Party, has 29 MLAs and was officially recognized by the Speaker as the new official opposition on Tuesday.
Making up the 29 are 22 former Wildrose MLAs and seven PCs.
“The United Conservative caucus has the largest number of opposition seats and therefore is recognized as the Official Opposition caucus in the Legislative Assembly of Alberta,” said Speaker Bob Wanner. “Nathan Cooper, the MLA for Olds-Didsbury-Three Hills, is recognized as the leader of the Official Opposition.”
The increased number of MLAs gives the official opposition more power, said Cypress-Medicine Hat UCP MLA Drew Barnes.
“It will give us an opportunity to work together for more questions and more debate,” said Barnes.
The strengthened party will also enhance the ability to prepare for the next provincial election, said Barnes.
The new party’s interim leader is Nathan Cooper and the interim caucus leadership announced Tuesday includes Calgary-West MLA Mike Ellis as deputy leader, Calgary-Fish Creek MLA Richard Gotfried as house leader, Rimbey-Rocky Mountain House-Sundre MLA Jason Nixon as the caucus whip and Calgary-Foothills MLA Prasad Panda as caucus chair.
The vote for a leader of the UCP will take place Oct. 28. So far, Brian Jean former leader of the Wildrose party, has confirmed he will run. Jason Kenney, former PC leader, has said he will run as has Doug Schweitzer, a Calgary lawyer.
Barnes says he will make a decision on whether to run for the leadership within seven to 10 days.
“My main goal is to get Cypress-Medicine Hat’s values and needs more prominent in Edmonton. If I can see that through one of the other people running I will just do that instead and if I can’t at that point in time I’ll make a decision with my family whether I run or not,” said Barnes.
Soon after the UCP leader is chosen the constitution and policies for the party will be developed, said Barnes.
Anyone who was a member of the PC or Wildrose automatically has that membership transferred to the UCP. Those members and anyone who buys a UCP membership can participate in that process, according to party officials. Barnes says he hopes constituents will work with him to ensure the policies and constitution of the UCP reflect Cypress-Medicine Hat values.
A date for a UCP convention has not been finalized but it is expected to take place in early December, said Barnes.
Barnes poured water on the suggestion that the 29 UCP MLAs are “floor crossers,” saying neither the Wildrose nor the PC parties exist anymore and that 95 per cent of votes cast last weekend voted to extinguish the two parties and form under the UCP.
Leadership candidate Brian Jean unveils platform
CALGARY The campaign for the leadership of the new United Conservative Party kicked off in earnest Tuesday with candidate Brian Jean promising to balance Alberta’s budget within three years by cutting government spending, jobs and pay rates.
The former leader of the Wildrose party, which merged last weekend with the province’s Conservative party, announced a platform calling for an immediate $2.6 billion spending reduction if he becomes the premier after a provincial election expected in 2019.
“I am here for all Albertans looking for a common sense economic and fiscal plan that shrinks the size of government and releases the unbridled potential of our economy,” Jean said in a release Tuesday.
Former Tory leader Jason Kenney and conservative strategist Doug Schweitzer have indicated they will run, but neither has officially launched their campaign yet. The vote is to be held Oct. 28.
Jean said he would cut the number of managers in government and save money by eliminating other jobs through early retirements and attrition. In addition, once union contracts expire, his government would negotiate to ensure that new employees are paid at lower rates.
At the same time Jean pledged to repeal Alberta’s carbon tax and reduce smallbusiness and corporate taxes.
Jean’s plan also calls for eliminating the recent cap on Alberta’a greenhouse gas emissions and repealing a law that brought in safety and employment standards for farm and ranch workers.
The United Conservative Party, formed after a merger between the Conservatives and the Wildrose, won’t become an official political party until papers are filed with Elections Alberta.
However, it was recognized Tuesday by the Speaker of the legislature as the official Opposition in Alberta.
Political analyst Lori Williams said the merger leaves the question of where moderate conservatives will go.
She thinks there’s a chance for parties closer to centre to pick up votes in the new political climate, and said that despite the “united” name, not all conservative voters are on board.