RE:A positive for Canadian Oil The NDP will face a single united conservative force in the next election, after Alberta’s Wildrose and Progressive Conservative parties voted overwhelmingly on the weekend to merge forces.
Both parties secured more than 95 per cent pro-unity votes from their members.
As unity wins were declared in Red Deer at a Wildrose special general meeting, and in Calgary at a PC celebration, rooms erupted with raucous cheers from party supporters.
The next step on the agenda is a joint caucus meeting on Monday in Edmonton, where MLAs will pick an interim leader.
Soon after that, the United Conservative Party will be registered with Elections Alberta.
Then comes a leadership race.
At this point, Brian Jean and Calgary lawyer Doug Schweitzer are the only candidates who have thrown their hat into the ring.
Jean’s unity celebration speech was his last as Wildrose leader, he told the crowd Saturday, before declaring his goal to be Alberta’s next premier to cheers of “Brian, Brian, Brian.”
“With tonight’s vote, the NDP’s time in government is ticking down, and ticking down quickly,” he told the crowd.
“Together, we will send a message to all of Canada that Alberta is not apologizing for our industries or our way of life.”
Tory Leader Jason Kenney was more circumspect, saying Saturday was a time to celebrate the unity vote; ask him about his intentions on July 23, he said.
“This campaign is bigger than any individual,” Kenney said – it’s about the province and its future.
“The writing is on the wall,” he said.
“This accidental NDP government will be a one-term government.”
https://edmontonjournal.com/news/politics/wildrose-progressive-conservatives-hold-vote-on-party-merger