Alberta PC leadership hopeful Jason Kenney’s website has been removed from the government-funded parliamentary site after it broke the rules by re-directing to the Conservative MP’s provinical leadership campaign. “I’m not asking people to vote for me because of a set of policy proposals, because I’m Mr. Congeniality”, Kenney said in a 40-minute news conference in Edmonton. If they approve, he would seek the leadership of the new party, which could potentially be named the Conservative Party of Alberta. “If we have done that nationally, it would be a walk in the park to do it in Alberta”. “I am offering this grass roots guarantee, to make it absolutely clear that a new united party will only be created if approved by a clear majority of grass roots party members in a fair open referendum”.
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“This grassroots democracy is absolutely non-negotiable”. “If, ultimately, the grassroots members refuse or unity discussions between the PCs and Wildrose parties are not effective then I will assess what role to play beyond that”.
If a merger isn’t possible, Kenney said, a united free-enterprise party would be built from the ground up. “That is what has worked for us federally”.
“I’ve chose to seek the leadership of the Progressive Conservative Party of Alberta seeking an explicit mandate, to unite with the Wildrose Party and all like-minded Albertans so we can defeat the NDP and put this province back on the right track”. Next winter there would be another leadership race to determine who would head a brand new party, that Kenney suggested would “take of like a rocket”.
Interim federal Conservative Leader Rona Ambrose, also an Alberta MP, wished Kenney well. A new leader is to be picked March 18.
“I’m going to depart from that convention to clearly demonstrate how committed I am to this project of uniting Albertans”, he told reporters in Edmonton. “We know we have work to do … but at the same time, taking us farther to the right is not going to help our party or live up to the ideals that are part of the reason I joined (the party) 31 years ago”, she said.
“Truly if the PCs want to participate in consolidating the Conservatives and if they choose that leader that they believe can do that, then let’s talk”.
– Electing a new leader for the PCs.
Speaking of his ambitious plan to unite Alberta’s Wildrose and Conservative parties, Kenney pointed out how the federal Conservative Party and the Canadian Alliance merged in 2003.
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Kenney is considered both a fiscal and social conservative, and his voting record on social issues – such as his opposition to abortion in the past – is a concern for some within the party. And there is recent precedent for a member of Parliament staying in office while campaigning for a provincial leadership.
