Don't Underestimate Alberta's New Political Force
A huge buzz has been filling the political landscape in Alberta for the last few days. Word of an impending merger between the provincial Alberta Alliance and fledgling Wildrose Parties has caused a minor quake in the media. While some are quick to disregard the imminent move as insignificant to the deeply entrenched roots of the ruling Progressive Conservatives, the reason this story has become front page news is because this isn’t just your usual flash-in-the-pan also-ran situation. This could possibly be the next popular political force in Alberta.
Right from the first glance this joining of forces makes sense. The Alliance, splashing on the scene with former leader Randy Thorsteinson, have pretty much been in neutral ever since. Even with their leader and single M.L.A. Paul Hinman sitting in the Legislature, the Alliance has hovered for a while now as a small, strong group of supporters who just couldn’t push their party over the top and into significance. Their policies were mostly in line with what Albertan’s liked, but still it didn’t translate into votes. It’s as if some Albertans wanted to vote for the Alliance, but just didn’t have enough reason.
The Wildrose party is a unique story in and of itself. Just recently climbing into the status of actual registered political party, this is anything but a group of wannabes. Experienced and skilled, the top echelon of the organization has made some deft decisions with their personnel and their policies. They have already formulated the beginnings of a strong, realistic alternative to the Stelmach P.C.s – which is what more and more Albertans are looking for.
Now, with the two separate entities coming together, the Progressive Conservatives have what could possibly be the first real threat to their reign. Disgruntled P.C. members upset and embarrassed by their parties bungling of issues like the carbon tax, royalties, and their abandonment of the democratic process with Chandlergate, haven’t been jumping to the opposition Liberals. Instead, like the rising number of non-party affiliated Alberta voters, they have turned away from the process. Voter turnout has bottomed with the citizens of this province finding no party that appeals to them. The ND socialists are never an option here, and the Taft-led Liberals are nothing more than Tory-lite, with both parties sitting in the small-L liberal area of the spectrum.
The first step in a long journey has begun. Many things must come together for the new ‘Wildrose Alliance’ group to succeed. Finances must be strong. A grassroots, bottom to top membership system must be in place. It must be an inclusive, ‘big tent’ party in order to appeal to the greatest number of voters. A big name candidate wouldn’t hurt, either.
And most of all, it must keep Alberta’s interests first and foremost on the list of priorities.
Right from the first glance this joining of forces makes sense. The Alliance, splashing on the scene with former leader Randy Thorsteinson, have pretty much been in neutral ever since. Even with their leader and single M.L.A. Paul Hinman sitting in the Legislature, the Alliance has hovered for a while now as a small, strong group of supporters who just couldn’t push their party over the top and into significance. Their policies were mostly in line with what Albertan’s liked, but still it didn’t translate into votes. It’s as if some Albertans wanted to vote for the Alliance, but just didn’t have enough reason.
The Wildrose party is a unique story in and of itself. Just recently climbing into the status of actual registered political party, this is anything but a group of wannabes. Experienced and skilled, the top echelon of the organization has made some deft decisions with their personnel and their policies. They have already formulated the beginnings of a strong, realistic alternative to the Stelmach P.C.s – which is what more and more Albertans are looking for.
Now, with the two separate entities coming together, the Progressive Conservatives have what could possibly be the first real threat to their reign. Disgruntled P.C. members upset and embarrassed by their parties bungling of issues like the carbon tax, royalties, and their abandonment of the democratic process with Chandlergate, haven’t been jumping to the opposition Liberals. Instead, like the rising number of non-party affiliated Alberta voters, they have turned away from the process. Voter turnout has bottomed with the citizens of this province finding no party that appeals to them. The ND socialists are never an option here, and the Taft-led Liberals are nothing more than Tory-lite, with both parties sitting in the small-L liberal area of the spectrum.
The first step in a long journey has begun. Many things must come together for the new ‘Wildrose Alliance’ group to succeed. Finances must be strong. A grassroots, bottom to top membership system must be in place. It must be an inclusive, ‘big tent’ party in order to appeal to the greatest number of voters. A big name candidate wouldn’t hurt, either.
And most of all, it must keep Alberta’s interests first and foremost on the list of priorities.
View blog reactions
posted by Leigh Patrick Sullivan at 1:02 PM
4 Comments:
I hate to be a wet blanket, but I see it differently. I'd had high hopes and expectations for the Wildrose Party, but recent events convinced me that, sadly, the Wildrose Party won't get my X on election day (and I had planned to vote for them if they got their party off the ground and produced something useful).
Since I cannot vote for the Tories, Liberals or the Wildrose/Alliance party, that leaves me only with the Alberta NDP, Alberta Greens, Social Credit and the Separation Party.
Merging Tweedledum and Tweedledee
A party is only as good as its members. This new entity is just being created - the perfect time to mould. The PCs are too stale and unadaptable.
I understand the 'wet blanket' feeling, but what if you were to actually become active and help to influence the direction of the new party?
No offense, but it's kind of like the guy who complains about the government, yet refuses to vote.
I agree, but frankly, I don't see much moulding going on when a party, barely registered as such, disbands and hands the reins to another party (I understand that Hinman will be party leader, and the new party will, in effect, be the same old Alberta Alliance, with the only difference being that it will have a few more (Wildrose) members now.
That won't boost the new or the old party. In my estimation, the new merged party will continue to be stuck at 3-6% in the polls. In other words, it won't do anything to get rid of Stelmach and the stale Tories.
I have not voted Alberta Alliance before (nor have the overwhelming majority of Albertans), and since there is no discernible change in the party as a result of the merger (and there is no such change on the horizon either), I will certainly not vote for it next time either.
That's why I wrote before, with all those options gone (and the hopes of a new and innovative -- and pragmatic as opposed to ideologically driven -- party thoroughly dashed), I'll be left with no other choice but to vote for one of the other parties I listed before.
Shame, a crying shame, indeed.
With all due respect Werner, it's that attitude that's kept the right in this province fractured for so long. From what I understand, both parties gave something up in order to come together on common ground. Yes, Hinman will be the interim leader but that's only because there won't be enough time for both the merger ratification AND a leadership race before the next election.
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