Speak no evil

A $1,000 “good conduct bond” imposed by the Wildrose party on some of its own members is, at best, bad optics. The party, after all, stands vehemently for liberty and free speech.

All Wildrose nominees paid $1,000 as part of their nomination packages, refundable if they won the candidacy in their riding, but withheld from unsuccessful nominees until after the election.

“What we don’t want to see is people losing and then being sore losers,” said Leader Danielle Smith. “We want to give them incentive to make sure they’re behaving appropriately towards the winner during the course of an election campaign.”

This position — borrowed from the federal Conservatives, according to Wildrose organizer Vitor Marciano — doesn’t square with a party that, to use its own words, “stands for free enterprise, less government, increased personal freedom and democracy.”

Wildrose has also come under criticism for keeping a tight leash on inexperienced candidates. Thomas Lukaszuk, the Redford government’s education minister, notes that Marciano, the Wildrose candidate for Senate, a federal post, was dispatched to attend three forums on education, even though education is a provincial responsibility. He argues, with some validity, that Wildrose is relying mostly on Smith and “a few trusted operatives” like Marciano to get out its message.

An election is a time for citizens to engage with parties and their candidates. Wildrose needs to walk the talk.