Fildebrandt rules out UCP leadership run
CALGARY A would-be contender for the leadership of Alberta’s new conservative party has ruled out joining the race.
United Conservative Party MLA Derek Fildebrandt had been widely expected to join former PC leader Jason Kenney, former Wildrose leader Brian Jean and conservative strategist Doug Schweitzer in seeking the leadership of the new party.
But he says, despite being approached by many party members, he has decided not to seek the leadership.
“I’ve decided that the best path forward for myself and for the party and for Alberta right now is for me to focus on policy development and ensuring that our new United Conservative Party is founded on a strong foundation of fiscal conservatism, individual liberty and reasserting Alberta’s place of strength and leadership in Canada,” Fildebrandt said Tuesday.
Fildebrandt said he has spent the past two years lobbying for a merger of the two parties and now wants to build the new party into “a vehicle for ideas, not just power.”
Although he said he won’t endorse any of the current leadership candidates, Fildebrandt made it clear that he won’t be voting for Jean, his former leader.
“I’ve had two-and-a-half years to work with him and see his leadership up close,” he said. “I’ve got more than enough experience to make a very confident decision that he is not the best man to lead the party and lead Alberta.”
Jean’s campaign said it would not be commenting.
Fildebrandt praised Kenney for recently announcing that, should he become leader, party members will determine what positions the UCP will take in the next provincial election. For that reason, Kenney has said he will not release a policy platform during the leadership campaign.
“I don’t want us to elect merely a personality and an individual leader,” Fildebrandt said. “I want us electing someone who has been very clear where they stand on issues. Jason’s said where he stands on a number of issues but I’d like to see more.”
In an emailed statement, Kenney said he was sorry Fildebrandt won’t be running for the leadership.
“Derek is a principled young conservative with much to offer,” he wrote. “I appreciate his work as an early champion of the unity cause. I look forward to his ongoing participation in the debate about the future of our province.”
Fildebrandt said regardless of who wins the leadership vote Oct. 28, he will support the new leader.
“Leadership races are always divisive,” he said. “They are internal family fights and we never come out without a couple of bumps and bruises but I think, at the end of the day, we’ll be able to heal those wounds, come together as a party and replace the NDP in 2019.”
The PCs and Wildrose parties voted to merge into a new party last month.