The Wildrose’s inability to gain a seat during four provincial byelections in October hasn’t deterred a would-be candidate’s enthusiasm for the party, while at least one party member isn’t so upbeat.
Jaye Walter is running to be the Wildrose Party’s nominee in the St. Albert riding.
The next provincial election is anticipated to be in 2016. The four recent byelections in Edmonton and Calgary saw Progressive Conservatives elected in each riding, giving Premier Jim Prentice and two of his new ministers seats in the legislature.
Walter, who said he was not speaking on behalf of the Wildrose Party, said the defeat of Wildrose candidates doesn’t hurt his chances in St. Albert.
“Otherwise I would have withdrawn,” he said. “There is a little bit of natural dissatisfaction, however, we all knew those were PC strongholds.”
He pointed out the Wildrose finished second in two of the contests, and third in the other two.
“There’s a lot of people in Alberta who like what they’re hearing from us,” Walter said.
St. Albert’s own electoral history has been a little more colourful than just PC blue, Walter pointed out. Since the PCs swept to power in the early ’70s, St. Albert has had two Liberal MLAs and one NDP representative, in addition to its Progressive Conservative members.
“It means that St. Albert’s more willing to give parties a chance and give people a chance to represent them,” Walter said.
He had no concerns over Danielle Smith’s leadership, adding he thinks she’s done a great job.
Some pundits have blamed Wildrose negativity for their losses, but Walter said he didn’t really have any concerns on that front.
Walter said the party has been introducing its platform and asking people to check it out.
“Fundamentally, it’s about common sense,” Walter said. “And although there might have been talk about negativity and things to that effect, I don’t see a lot of it. Politics is politics and it is fundamentally about differences.”
St. Albert resident and Wildrose party member Liam Connelly is feeling less positive about the recent Wildrose losses and the departure of MLA Joe Anglin from the fold.
“I think I’m the type of member right now that I am completely dismayed in terms of the direction the party’s gone with what’s been happening,” Connelly said. “The members in the party are not happy.”
Connelly, a lawyer, said he’d predicted the results of the byelections, and said some rank and file members are not pleased with the party’s direction. He said he and others knew continuing with ongoing attacks wasn’t a winning strategy.
With the Wildrose annual general meeting due to happen in Red Deer this weekend, Connelly thinks a leadership review of Smith needs to be back on the agenda.
“I think the members need a way of speaking their mind at this AGM,” Connelly said. He said he knows of two people who’ve had their memberships taken away by the Wildrose party. “We have to make sure the members are treated properly and listened to and not just paid lip service.”
Connelly said the party direction needs to be fixed, and fixed properly.
“If we don’t fix it, we’re basically dead in the water.”
