The party’s over
Alberta Party needs to take stock of its future
It’s said that nice guys finish last. Such is the case with Glenn Taylor, the leader of the fledgling Alberta Party, who announced this week he is stepping down.
The affable Taylor tried to build a new party and introduce Albertans to a fresh way of doing politics — that being the art of compromise and cooperation. It was refreshing, but the party failed to win even one seat during the hotly contested April election, little buzz and very few votes. Now Taylor has decided to return to his roots in Hinton, to take a new job. Taylor, who settled in Hinton in 1986, was the town’s mayor until January, when he left to lead the Alberta Party. He leaves the party with a future that is now uncertain.
His campaign style was different, if not refreshing. Taylor once shovelled the walkway to every door he wanted to knock on while campaigning in Edmonton-Glenora with a candidate after a snowstorm.
“We’re a new option for Albertans to consider,” his pitch ran. “We’ve been at this for about two years now, and we just want to try to bring a different kind of politics to Alberta.”
Taylor’s goals of cultivating common ground and partnerships in politics are laudable, but not always politically feasible. Many of Taylor’s ideas were too vague and not yet fleshed out. Inclusiveness and consultation are good, but at some point, a new party has to articulate policies and say what it stands for. The Alberta Party tried, but never really got there.
During a visit with the Herald editorial board prior to the spring election, Taylor came across as well-intended, but fuzzy on too many important issues affecting Albertans. He wanted to consult with the people first before committing to policy — again, laudable, but impractical.
He also seemed to lack the fire in the belly that voters look for in a premier. The Alberta Party, for instance, had been excluded from the televised leaders’ debate, something Taylor should have been more vocal in opposing. Instead, he quietly accepted the decision and took to live blogging during the debate. He also released a wrap-up video hours after the debate, long after most Albertans had gone to bed.
His centrist party has some soul searching to do. Some supporters, such as Edmonton-rutherford candidate Michael Walters, believe the Alberta Party and Liberal Party should merge. Other members want the Alberta Party to become a think-tank, one of the original ideas of the Reboot Alberta movement.
The members would be most wise to work toward a merger with the Alberta Liberal Party, which desperately needs reinvigorating. While more voices make for a healthy democracy, too many voices can get muffled in the noise. A credible, viable centrist party would be a healthy alternative on Alberta’s political landscape. As for Taylor, we wish him the best of success in his future endeavours.
The members would be most wise to work toward a merger with the Alberta Liberal Party, which desperately needs reinvigorating.