Gill stays mum on joining breakaway conservatives
EDMONTON Calgary- Greenway Independent MLA Prab Gill is tightlipped over rumours he will join the Freedom Conservative Party.
When asked on his way into the legislature Wednesday, Gill repeatedly said “no comment,” before adding he will consult with his constituents before any decision.
He also wouldn’t comment on whether he has changed his mind on not running in 2019, and said he has not yet organized any town hall meetings in his riding.
Gill took the unusual step of raising a point of privilege in the Alberta legislature Tuesday, saying he wanted to clear his name over allegations of misappropriating ballots during a Calgary constituency association meeting.
He took the opportunity to slam his former United Conservative Party over what he labelled “crooked and racist nomination politics.”
He also railed against an internal UCP investigation into what happened at the meeting. That report, prepared by retired judge Ted Carruthers at the behest of the party, led to Gill leaving the UCP caucus.
Gill said Tuesday he was told the UCP would “use its massive financial resources to bankrupt me in the courts” if he fought to defend his name.
“In my weakness I caved and agreed to quietly sit as an independent. But by not defending myself to my fullest ability I left the impression that I had done something wrong,” he said.
On Wednesday, he said he was only able to briefly read the report before he stood down from the party. He said he didn’t pursue it because he was going through an injury and personal issues at the time, and didn’t realize people he considered to be key witnesses hadn’t been interviewed.
Gill stood by his comments Wednesday when speaking with media, but UCP house leader Jason Nixon dismissed the allegations of crooked back-room dealings in the party as “completely false.”
Freedom Conservative Party Leader Derek Fildebrandt did not stop to answer whether Gill is considering joining his party.