I am somewhat confused with what is happening to our Highwood Progressive Conservative Association (HPCA) nomination date and plans.
It should be brought to the public’s attention that according to party regulations, the HPCA must apply to the Provincial Progressive Conservative Association (PPCA) for a nomination date to elect a nominee to stand for election as a PC candidate for the Highwood Constituency in the next provincial election.
The Highwood association has applied for a nomination date but to my knowledge PPCA have not responded.
A number of constituency residents have asked me about what is happening in the PC Highwood Constituency.
Frankly, I cannot answer because I do not know. Before the “stampede” of the famous nine Wild Rose MLAs across the floor of the Alberta Legislature in December, the HPCA was already moving steadily towards nominating a new PC candidate to challenge the Highwood MLA in the next election, which was originally scheduled for spring 2016.
This course of action was as it should have been under party democratic rules.
Prior to all this occurring, there were several eligible persons interested in and expressing wiliness to campaign for the PC nomination.
It appears now that has changed, and not in a good way.
Several possible nominees have become reluctant to discuss their plans, other than to infer that they may have been told not to contest the nomination.
Have they been advised by political “Hacks” not to contest the nomination in Highwood constituency?
If this is so, then I would ask why that it is. Is there a movement afoot to guarantee only one contestant to win the PC nomination in Highwood by acclamation?
Why do we not have open and honest nominations allowing the “best person” to win.
While we are aware that whenever there is a change in the leaderships of the ruling party in Alberta, there generally are a number of MLAs who do not seek re-election in the next provincial election.
As of the time of writing, we now have nine PC MLAs who have either resigned their legislative seats immediately, or have indicated that they will serve out their current term, but will not stand for re-election in the next provincial election, ostensibly to be announced for this spring.
Is this a purging?
Have some been asked or told to leave, or are some just so disgusted with the present events in caucus that they do not wish to have anything more to do with the organization altogether?
Yes, we may have some new faces after the next election, which admittedly could be refreshing.
It is never good to have any one person in government for an overly long period of time.
However, with the Wildrose “cross-over” largely now entrenched, possibly receiving guaranteed PC nominations, and, as been rumoured even receiving cabinet postings either in a cabinet shuffle or after the next election, the PC caucus and its cabinet may not look too inspiring.
We could end-up with the Progressive Wildrose party.
After reading the papers and hearing about what events took place in High River on Jan. 31, one cannot but help feel somewhat disgusted with what has been happening.
The announcement that more money was forthcoming for the remainder of the High River flood claims was somewhat misleading.
The federal conservative MP and the Alberta senator assured the premier that they were cooperating on having these claims completed with satisfaction for all those affected.
It is and has always been about 90 per cent federal funding not provincial funding that is paying for the claims.
Moreover, this money was made available to the Alberta government some considerable time ago.
The provincial government’s primary responsibility, here has been to distribute the funding allocated to them by the federal government. Besides, what does the premier think that Rick Fraser et al have been doing for the last eighteen months?
Did he not consult with any of that group? It would appear that the Highwood MLA has been incorrectly (and with regards to the efforts of others), unfairly credited for the decision recently announced to extend the $20 million to bring to completion the flood claims in High River.
But did this person really have much or rather very little to do with finalizing the claims?
If so, why was the MLA not working on this important issue even while still a Wildrose member?
Let us have open and free democratic nominations, so that anyone who is seeking the privilege to serve the Highwood constituency as a Progressive Conservative MLA in the next provincial government has a fair and equitable chance to do so.
Let us also give credit where credit is due.
