Grassroots to get bigger say: premier

Tory policy advisory committees should be running this fall

Card-carrying Progressive Conservatives facing an “extremist Opposition” deserve a bigger say in provincial affairs, Premier Alison Redford said Friday, promising party members an “unprecedented opportunity” to help define government policy.

In a speech to PC delegates attending the party’s first policy conference since she became leader, Redford announced the party will create a series of new policy advisory committees that give the Tory membership “their own seats at the decision-making table.”

“It’s not just looking to give you a more meaningful role in shaping the direction of our government for the sake of talking about it,” Redford said. “I am asking you to fight for our shared mainstream conservative values, for the PC values that have shaped the province into what it is today.”

Redford’s overtures to the party’s grassroots gathered at the Radisson South Hotel were mixed with jabs at the Wildrose party.

Without mentioning the Wildrose by name, Redford said the opposition ran in the 2012 provincial election on “a platform that would have done credit to Social Credit, 50 years ago.”

“We know the Opposition will redouble their efforts to deny who they really are in the months ahead,” Redford said. “And I fully expect them once again to sweep some of their extreme policies under the rug and to pretend to be something they’re not.”

Her party members, she said, need to be ready. “And we have to ensure that Albertans understand what’s at stake.”

Redford’s plan to re-engage the grassroots through new policy committees is the latest move in the party leadership’s efforts to reconnect with members after coming dangerously close to losing the 2012 provincial election to the Wildrose.

Despite a healthy majority government that now includes 60 MLAs, recent polls suggest Albertans are dissatisfied and distrustful of Redford’s government, particularly after the 2013-14 budget was delivered in March.

Redford said Friday night she makes no apologies for the budget, which she said delivers on an election promise to build the province. But she said the party’s success in the next three years will depend upon renewed unity.

Members voted in last fall’s annual general meeting to establish a leadership council of about 200 people that includes all constituency association presidents, the party’s board of directors, past presidents, fund directors and regional directors.

Its stated mission is to “give a greater voice to (the party’s) grassroots” and serve as a forum to consult on the political and legislative priorities of the PC caucus.

Planning documents for the new council, which meets for the first time Saturday night, suggests the group focus its work on rebuilding the party brand and giving people “a reason to want to choose a PC party to form a government.”

It also says tools must be in place to “make sure the PC party and brand is strong enough to carry on as a party, even if we are not the government.”

On Friday night, Redford described the leadership council as a “good start.” But she said party members should have an even bigger voice in policy ideas, beginning with advisory committees that mirror the government’s primary ministries.

The committees, which Redford said she hopes will be running by the fall, will meet regularly to discuss issues and make recommendations for future policy or legislation.

Each committee will have at least 20 members, at least one youth member and have at least one third of its membership come from rural Alberta.

Committees — which Redford referred to as PACs — will be led jointly by an MLA and a party member. A cabinet minister also will be attached to each committee as a subject matter expert.

“I know MLAs and ministers are excited about this in ensuring we’re working constructively with PACs so that the dialogue is ongoing,” she said.

Dean Sanduga, a director with the Edmonton-Castle Downs constituency association, said after Redford’s speech that he is happy to hear MLAs in the Tory caucus want more input from party members. With a background in business, Sanduga said he will be most interested in committees that deal with economic development.

Edmonton-Goldbar MLA David Dorward said he believes the party’s policy committees can operate in a way that maintains the lines between what is a political party activity and what is government.

“All the more information the better,” Dorward said. “I think we’re talking here about something that is passing information through to the government, but in an appropriate way.”