Wildrose starts picking up the pieces
Posted Dec 18, 2014 7:37 am.
This article is more than 5 years old.
The dust is starting to settle after a wild couple of days in Alberta politics which saw the official opposition gutted of nine members, and the ruling Conservatives strengthen their position even further.
Even with just five MLAs remaining, the Wildrose said it’s not going anywhere.
The remaining MLAs, along with the executive, are in the process of selecting a new interim leader and should have one soon, then they’ll start the process of choosing a new permanent leader.
Wildrose MLA Drew Barnes said they’ll try and move forward as a strong opposition.
“The five of us that have committed to stay with the Wildrose are talking quite a bit, are working out where we have to go and our executive committee is very involved, meeting every night,” he said. “We need to make sure that everybody is involved in the decision as much as possible and for Alberta’s sake that as an opposition we go forward as professionally and effectively as possible.”
Danielle Smith called her departure a historic day, and Wildrose VP of Fundraising Jeff Callaway told City News it’s historic in the sense that these 9 MLAs have abandoned the more than 400,000 people who voted for the party.
“Abandoning the 21,000 members, and the donors, the volunteers and the constituencies who were working together to ultimately form a Wildrose government,” he said, adding the Wildrose remains positive about its future prospects.
“We’re all extremely proud of the five Wildrose members who are choosing to stay based on Albertans electing them as Wildrose members and we’re going to continue onwards,” said Callaway.
As for the future of Smith, MRU Political Scientist Bruce Foster said people tend to vote for the party first, person second, and there may be some jaded constituents who get in the way of her re-election hopes.
“It’s not a forgone conclusion that her job is safe as a member of the PC party,” he said.
He added the best plan for the Wildrose going forward is to focus on social conservatives, which may not help them grow, but will at least keep them afloat.
