Highwood’s outgoing MLA is taking aim at a foothills PC insider and former supporter, accusing him of reporting to the Wildrose Party.
In a surprising move, MLA George Groeneveld suggested Dean Leask, the former Highwood PC Association president, rejoined the party fold last year to report back to the Wildrose Party. However, he said he has no proof to back up his allegations.
“I’m questioning that, that thought has entered my mind,” Groeneveld said. “Certainly a lot of people have suggested that to me. Do I know that? No, I don’t know that for sure.”
It’s an allegation Groeneveld does not take lightly. He has known Leask since he was a teenager. As well, Leask has worked with Groeneveld on previous campaigns, including as his campaign manager in 2008.
Leask then joined the Wildrose Party and was the party’s vice-president of policy. He eventually left the Wildrose and supported the PC leadership campaign of Ted Morton. Leask then became president of the Highwood PC board until the start of the provincial campaign at the end of March.
Groeneveld said he invited Leask to fill a vacancy at the head of the Highwood PC Board last year, in spite of concerns from members of the board at the time.
“At that time,Dean expressed his displeasure with the Wildrose and I asked him if he wanted to come back and serve as [board] president,” he said.
Leask was also a guest columnist for the Western Wheel up until the provincial election campaign began.
Groeneveld said Leask has flip-flopped between the Tories and the Wildrose and he said Leask’s recent comments on Twitter show his support for the Wildrose Party.
“He’s going to tell you he’s not campaigning for the Wildrose,” said Groeneveld. “Go to his tweets and take a look. Is he campaigning for the Wildrose or not?”
Leask denies being a Wildrose Party plant.
“That is 100 per cent not true, it’s disappointing,” he said.
Leask said he came back to the PCs to work with Groeneveld, however, he hopes the Wildrose Party wins the election.
Leask said he has left politics and is now focused on his business. He acknowledges tweeting about politics, but he said he has not been active in election campaigning.
“I told everyone I was sitting this one out and I have,” he said.
Wildrose Party leader Danielle Smith said Leask is not spying on behalf of the party. She said the suggestion is a sign the campaign is not going in the PC’s favour.
“Its quite clear things are falling apart on the PC side,” said Smith.
She said support for the Wildrose Party is surging and Leask is one of many former PC supporters who have turned away from the Tories.
“It doesn’t surprise me that we’re seeing a lot of former PC supporters looking at Ms. Redford and realizing she’s not the change they were looking for,” said Smith.
