Centrist politicians ponder way forward
Many PCs uneasy with Jason Kenney, Alberta Party Leader Clark says
Centrist-leaning politicians looking for their own way to unite in a politically divided Alberta huddled for a private weekend meeting in Red Deer.
Alberta Party Leader Greg Clark was one of about 50 people in attendance Saturday, and while he denied any talk of party mergers, he said the meeting was successful in bringing together self-described centrists “looking for a new home.”
“We’ve been having lots of discussions with people who have centrist values and, frankly, most of them are PCs who don’t feel at home under Jason Kenney’s leadership,” Clark said.
Kenney was chosen as the new leader of the Alberta Progressive Conservatives in March, and part of his plan to overthrow the current NDP government is through a controversial unite-the-right plan, under which the PCs and Wildrose party would join forces under a new right-wing political banner.
Liberal leadership candidate Kerry Cundal was also at Saturday’s meeting, though the party did not send an official delegation. Cundal didn’t speak specifically of an allied centrist movement, but said it’s important “we work together, not against each other.
“We need to be leading this movement not sitting on the sidelines watching it happen,” Cundal said. “Lots of folks are feeling politically homeless and are saying it’s time to do something different. We can’t continue to do things the same old way and expect different results.”
Former Edmonton mayor and PC cabinet minister Stephen Mandel was one of the organizers of Saturday’s meeting, but said nothing more about the gathering other than it was an initial conversation between like-minded people.
“I think it went OK,” Mandel said. “This is just a preliminary get-together to see if there’s a will to begin a collaboration of the centre — there seems to be interest.”
While a mix of Liberals, PCs and Alberta Party members were present at Saturday’s meeting, Liberal candidate David Khan said his focus is on rebuilding the Liberal party, not participating in “closed-door secret meetings with political insiders.”
Current Alberta Liberal Leader David Swann acknowledged there continues to be a divide among members of the Liberal party, and it’s unclear whether uniting or rebuilding would result in better fortunes.
“The question for all of us is, ‘How do we best serve Albertans?’ Is it through the Liberal party or is it through some sort of co-operative venture?” he said.
A public meeting with panellists, political candidates and community members will be held in Calgary on April 29 at noon at the Sheraton Suites Eau Claire.