Starting Thursday, the vote by party members got underway over the possibility of uniting Alberta’s two conservative parties, in an effort to challenge the governing New Democrats in the next provincial election.
Voting started Thursday for members of the Progressive Conservative Party, while members of the Wildrose Party will vote Saturday.
One of the first people to cast a vote on the merge was PC Leader Jason Kenney, who drafted the plan in his run for party leadership. Kenney cast his ballot in Calgary.
“This is a big, broad democratic decision and I’m confident the results will reflect the will of the grassroots,” Kenney said.
Voting is available online for PC members until Saturday, and members can also vote at one of a number of voting stations set up across Alberta.
For the other party, Wildrose members will vote Saturday online and at a Red Deer hotel.
“This is an incredible opportunity for people to participate in democracy,” Wildrose Leader Brian Jean said. “To have their say on unity and I think set the course for the future of Alberta.”
Jean said he’s confident members of his party will vote in support of the plan.
“I do believe they want a practical, common-sense government, that’s going to make good policy decisions,” Jean said.
Looking back at votes cast in the last election, the political landscape would be very different, as a united conservative party would have an even bigger majority than the one the NDP have.
“There’s so many variables that happen between now and the next election,” political analyst Lori Williams said.
“It may not be that the merged party is what they want. That represents their vision for the future of Alberta.”
As for the NDP, Municipal Affairs Minister Shaye Anderson said his party is not concerned.
“They do what they do, and we’ll deal with it at a later time,” Anderson said. “We’re busy governing and trying to do the best for Albertans.”
Results of the Wildrose vote are expected to be released at about 4:30 p.m. Saturday, the PC results will be out about an hour and a half later.
For the Progressive Conservatives, the vote will be ‘yes’ as long as more than 50 percent vote in favour, Wildrose members would need to vote more than 75 percent in favour for a ‘yes’.
If both sides vote in support of a merge, the new party will select a leader October 28, days before the fall session will begin at the legislature. So far, the leaders of the two parties: Jean and Kenney have announced their intentions to run. Calgary lawyer Doug Schweitzer has announced he intends to run as well.
With files from Bill Fortier
