Most local conservatives support merger idea

Wildrose Party Leader Brian Jean's call for a merger of the province's two right-wing parties fits the way most local conservatives are thinking, according to spokesmen for the Olds-Didsbury-Three Hills Progressive Conservative and Wildrose constituency associations.

Jean made his announcement Jan. 26 on Facebook and in a letter to Wildrose Party officials.

"I am announcing today that if our members approve a unity agreement with the PC Party, I am prepared to stand down as leader of Wildrose and to seek the leadership of our single, principled conservative party in a race to be conducted this summer," Jean said.

Olds-Didsbury-Three Hills Wildrose Party Constituency Association president Michael Robertson said he personally supports that decision.

"Based on what I've been getting back from my constituents over the last little while, I would say that I'm quite happy to support his move," Robertson told the Albertan.

"I believe that it is the right move for Alberta and I believe it shows real leadership to put your job on the line; to say, ëlook, let's get this done,'" he added.

Robertson said from his discussions with Wildrose Party members in the riding they "generally" support the idea of a merger of the two parties.

"This announcement didn't come out of the blue. It's been an ongoing discussion, because the future of Alberta is very important," he said.

Olds-Didsbury-Three Hills Progressive Conservative Party Constituency Association president Rob Smith could not be reached for comment by press time.

The association's past-president, William Stevenson, who also serves as that party's provincial treasurer, spoke in his absence.

Stevenson pointed out the provincial party as a whole is holding its leadership vote in Calgary on March 18 and the local riding association will choose its delegates to that convention at Grouchy Daddy's in Olds on Feb. 10.

PC leadership candidate Jason Kenney has been running on a platform to hold merger talks with the Wildrose Party in order to create one conservative party if he wins. He endorsed Jean's announcement last week. Other leadership candidates have come out against a merger.

Stevenson said Jean's announcement is pretty much what Kenney's been saying for months.

"At the moment there's lots to be decided. The membership are the ones that are going to decide (the future of the PC party) March 18," Stevenson said.

"I think -- and this is my own personal opinion - but personally, I think that the people that I've talked to are looking towards amalgamating in some fashion or form and getting one conservative party. We'll see who shows up for delegates in our riding," Stevenson said.

He said this year, there's more interest than ever among local party members in attending the March 18 convention. A total of 15 will be chosen, including three youth delegates.

"There are a lot of people who want to hang on to the legacy of the PC Lougheed era," Stevenson said. "Going forward though, what's important is how are we going to interact and how are we going to operate as a conservative party into the future?

"So this decision on March 18 is going to be crucial in deciding how we go forward and the PC Party is going to determine the choices that the public is going to have in the next go-round. So it's going to make a big difference as to the future of the province and how we decide that we're going to operate."

Stevenson said as a member of the provincial PC board, it's his observation that board members are split on the merger idea.

He said generally speaking, those who live north of the Red Deer area tend to support keeping the PC party intact, because it's perceived to be closer to the political centre than the Wildrose Party, whereas those south of Red Deer appear to be more open to a merger with the Wildrose.

"But that's on the board level, and not necessarily everybody on the board is representing every idea that's in the general membership, whereas these delegate selection meetings are going to represent the actual membership vote," he said.