Change comes quickly in politics. Most of us get a sense that it’s coming but never fully expect or understand it no matter how smart or in tune we consider ourselves. Ralph Klein’s group knew that time was running out. I remember sitting in PC party renewal meetings toward the end of his tenure and you could feel it in the air.
Shortly after Danielle Smith took over the leadership of the upstart Wildrose Party, I joined the party and was elected to a position on the executive. It was an exciting time. Although we had only a few MLAs, it was a fresh, new group of younger politico’s that had mostly come up from Reform Party roots.
I liked the policy we developed and the platform as well. For a true, blue libertarian like myself it really resonated with me. Sadly, as time went on, I saw the same things I had experienced with the PC Party.
I did feel that the 2012 election would be Smith’s for the taking, and Wildrose was very close to accomplishing that. A couple of stumbles coupled with a fear campaign kept her at bay. Things I heard from the inside seemed OK - most felt the crackerjack team of party staff in Edmonton had done a terrific job and had helped create a brilliant opposition They had made a Premier resign and sent the government into a tizzy. Then the unthinkable happened.
Four bad results in the fall 2014 by-elections coupled with a dynamic, new get-things-done leader like Jim Prentice, and Danielle Smith, along with 10 of her people, laid down their swords and crossed over to the enemy.
My thoughts were that this party was mortally wounded - dig a grave and bury it. Man, was I wrong! Inch by inch the Wildrose clawed their way back and actually outperformed their last outcome in 2012. All of this with a leader that wasn’t even on the job for 30 days, and a bunch of new candidates.
On the other side of the fence, we have a once proud political dynasty sent packing to the far backbenches in the legislature. Still comprised of a few good conservative politicians like Ric McIver and Rick Fraser but without a leader and still full of those insiders that brought them to this end.
The saying “Absolute power corrupts absolutely” really rings true to people like me. I have lots of good friends that work for and support the PC party, and I have always liked the local group. They are not the problem - they never were. You see, a true grass roots party listens to the membership and follows their wishes. When party leadership grows deaf, political parties decline.
The event precipitating the end was taking the poison pill, accepting the Wildrose floor crossers into the fold. This weakened Prentice’s leadership, caused huge division within the party and, ultimately, was viewed by Albertan’s as an underhanded political move.
The fact that Prentice resigned from leadership and government about 15 minutes after the results really speaks to the entire situation. If he couldn’t right the ship, who can?
The answer is, who cares!
They will not be relevant in four years, we have seen what happens when the political landscape shifts. They qualify for little research staffing, and that will make them powerless in Edmonton. They have been relegated to a true rump party.
So, what now? Facing an NDP majority full of inexperienced, radical socialists, we can only guess. But, I know that this won’t be representative of Highwood’s beliefs. I expect business, the oil patch and farmers are about to be under fire.
One example, just think of the ramifications of a $15 minimum wage - this would represent a 50 per cent increase in labour costs with an economic shockwave that would rock small business in Alberta to the core. This is just a teaser, I will have to spend an entire column spelling out their plans for us soon enough.
I can tell you all this much - things are alive and well in the Wildrose Party. It truly is a new beginning with an experienced, thoughtful leader in Brian Jean.
The feeling within this group is simple - head down, tail up for the next four years, providing excellent opposition.
Let’s dust off the shelf and put the tired old PC Party right next to the Social Credit Party, just above the UFA Party and give the new conservatives a chance.
