Olds-Didsbury-Three Hills MLA and Wildrose Party house leader Nathan Cooper is coy on how he feels about the possibility of Calgary MP Jason Kenney winning the Alberta Progressive Conservative party leadership and trying to create one conservative party.
During an interview with the Albertan, Cooper said he will support what his constituents decide, although he thinks his party can appeal to all conservatives.
Last Wednesday, Kenney announced plans to run for leadership of the Alberta Progressive Conservative party. He then hopes to work toward uniting the right end of the political spectrum by creating one conservative party that could theoretically defeat the governing New Democratic Party (NDP) in the next provincial election.
The PC leadership became vacant in May 2015 when then-PC leader Jim Prentice quit the job after losing the provincial election to the NDP.
The race to succeed Prentice officially begins Oct. 1. The new leader will be chosen on March 18, 2017, during a convention in Calgary.
The next Alberta election is expected to take place on or before May 31, 2019.
“I think the most important part of this conversation is what the members of those parties – and in particular in my case the Wildrose members – would like to see happen,” Cooper said.
“Certainly I've heard a wide range of opinions on one conservative party. And the last thing we need is backroom deals or a lack of transparency in the process, should one be engaged in (it).
“At the end of the day, if the membership decides to unite, then it will happen. Whether or not it can happen, I don't know the answer to that question. I think that only time will tell,” he added.
Cooper was asked if he personally could support Kenney if he becomes the leader of a united party.
“Oh, there is an absolute mile of work that is between here and there,” he said.
“I think what's most important to me is listening to members, listening to constituents and trying to serve their needs and providing a vision – a Wildrose vision – that's big enough for all Albertans.”
Cooper said that's why Wildrose Party Leader Brian Jean is touring the province this summer; to find out what Albertans think about that issue and others.
He said unfortunately, Jean won't be holding those discussions in the Olds-Didsbury-Three Hills constituency. He said the closest such “town hall” will be in Airdrie.
However, Cooper said he's looking at having a couple of open houses in August, one of which may be in the Olds/Didsbury/Carstairs area, while the other will likely be east of Highway 2.
"At the end of the day, if the membership decides to unite, then it will happen. Whether or not it can happen, I don't know the answer to that question. I think that only time will tell."NATHAN COOPER OLDS-DIDSBURY-THREE HILLS MLA
