ANALYSIS
In a move that will reduce Alberta’s most effective opposition party in decades to a rural rump, nine Wildrose MLAs announced they would defect to the governing Progressive Conservatives on Wednesday.
It’s an astonishing development, and one that has no precedent in Canadian political history. Never before has an opposition party defected en masse to bolster the already swollen majority of government MLAs. The move appears to have been spearheaded by Wildrose (former) leader Danielle Smith and one of her top MLAs, Rob Anderson.
Only five Wildrose MLAs will remain, although with reports that one will retire in January due to health reasons, it looks like the upstart protest party will lose official opposition status. It’s a stunning slide for a party that was ahead in the polls, rich in fundraising, and facing a weakened Progressive Conservative government only a few months ago.
But the Wildrose has suffered a steady decline since Alberta premier Jim Prentice was sworn in in September; four by-election losses, a bizarre Annual General Meeting, followed by three floor-crossings left Wildrose vulnerable.
“In this time of economic uncertainty, it is imperative we come together to make the necessary decisions to chart us through these challenges and make our province stronger than ever,” said a statement accompanying the release from the government whip.
Rumours spread quickly this week that key Wildrose MLAs, including Rob Anderson, was in talks to form some kind of merger; but those discussions never reached the key executive committee of the party itself. Nor was it ever put to party membership — which the party’s constitution would require.
Instead, party insiders have portrayed the floor crossings as a betrayal, and an opportunistic mass defection.
“They are going to have to make sure that their constituents are satisfied with their decision,” said Wildrose MLA Drew Barnes, who is one of the few who will remain behind.
“650 people have reached out to me — many of them constituents of the nine people who are doing this — some of these constituents feel that were not honoured in this process, and many feel this is not the way the system should be running.”
Indeed, while Wildrose came close to forming government in the last election, it has not been successful at toppling the PC’s 43-year-long regime since it formed as a conservative protest movement opposed to former premier Ed Stelmach’s leadership in 2008.
The party has, however, been the most effective opposition in Alberta’s recent history.
Wildrose exposed dozens of PC party scandals and was instrumental in overthrowing Mr. Stelmach and former premier Alison Redford.
While the defecting Wildrose MLAs will certainly have more ability to craft government policy in their new roles, Mr. Barnes said he’ll do his best to maintain a strong-right-wing opposition as Alberta faces what is expected to be a brutal budget in the face of low oil prices.
“I’ve always focused on our 23,000 members, and that fact that with our 14 MLAs, that we were the best opposition Alberta has seen in a long time,” he said. “Why is it happening? In my mind I see no reason for it to happen. We need to honour the 440,000 people who voted Wildrose in the last election. We need to continue to provide good opposition.”
Much of the fury over the defection will fall on Ms. Smith directly; since 2009, she’s been a heated critic of the PC government. The battle between the Wildrose and the PCs, often characterized as a civil war, has been long and protracted.
Not only does Ms. Smith face the inevitability of showing allegiance to Mr. Prentice — who heads a PC government the Wildrose once labelled as suffering from a “culture of corruption,” — she will also face the furor of party members who feel she’s betrayed her own cause in a cynical bid for power, and sunk her own party in the process.
“She made a mistake. Opposition is a necessary part of the process. I’m a loyal and hard worker and I have been for the last five years for Wildrose,” Mr. Barnes said. “When she was the leader, I was 100% working for her. So I’m disappointed she chose not to continue this.”
On Monday, a “Reunification Agreement” was leaked to the Calgary Sun essentially spelled out Wildrose’s rationale for merging with the PCs.
Among it, the document suggested that there was no point in fighting a government that had essentially agreed to most of Wildrose’s platforms; from a balanced budget, to a review of contentious property rights laws to choice in healthcare, the agreement suggested that Wildrose would be more effective playing on the same team as the long-ruling regime.
Further, the leaked agreement suggested the party would make way for Wildrose defectors in coming nomination battles — a move that will certainly draw the ire of PC volunteers and board members in those constituencies.
Indeed, Mr. Prentice confirmed much of the agreement in a press conference on Wednesday. He said there would be an MLA-driven review of property rights legislation brought in under Mr. Stelmach and Ms. Redford, a greater commitment to ethical and transparent government, free votes on matters of conscience, and the creation of a list to better prioritize infrastructure and capital projects.
The proposal also promises to reign in the deficit over several year and to limit cost increases to inflation plus population growth.
THE FULL STATEMENT
Premier Jim Prentice and Danielle Smith announced the unification of Alberta’s conservatives as nine members of the Wildrose caucus unite with the Progressive Conservative caucus, which will continue to welcome further Wildrose MLAs.
“Throughout my public and political life, I have always believed conservatives should be united in bringing our common principles and combined energy to public service. Today, we once again represent the full diversity of voices and regions from across Alberta – north, south, urban and rural,” Premier Jim Prentice said. “Alberta is stronger today with these committed people working together. Our province needs united leadership and shared purpose in tackling the challenges ahead.”
Smith resigned as Wildrose leader this morning and the caucuses have agreed to unite under a set of aligned values and principles, including: respecting property rights, strengthening local decision-making in health care, and committing to sound conservative fiscal principles.
“When I became Wildrose leader more than five years ago, I did so with one singular objective in mind: to return to government the conservative values and principles that I had spent my life defending. Under Premier Prentice’s strong leadership, I believe we can work together to lead Alberta with a renewed focus on the values and principles that we share,” Smith said.
A transition team will work through the integration of the new members into the PC caucus, including legislative affairs and staff matters.
Source:: National Post
