New merger could rock Alberta
Roy Clancy
Fri, January 4, 2008
The Progressive Conservatives haven't fretted much about the fringe parties on the right wing of Alberta's political spectrum.
But they could soon be peering nervously over their shoulders if two of these parties successfully pull off a merger this month.
The Alberta Alliance Party, represented in the legislature by lone MLA Paul Hinman, and the recently formed Wildrose Party of Alberta announced a plan yesterday to unite their organizations.
If members of the parties OK the plan in a vote set for Jan. 19, the groups claim they could be ready for an election in February.
If the new party, to be called the Wildrose Alliance, can manage to fulfil this ambitious plan, it could have ramifications for other political parties in Alberta.
Many traditional PC voters in the last election showed their displeasure with the Tories by staying away from the polls.
The Liberals have been the beneficiaries. But that could change if a credible party emerges to the right of the Conservatives.
This could result in more seats for the fledgling party, or more Liberals elected as Conservatives split their vote.
Hinman, who would be the leader of the new Wildrose Alliance, is the grandson of Ted Hinman, who was a cabinet minister in the Social Credit government of Ernest Manning.
Anyone who doubts the influence of the hard right grassroots in this province need only look at the success of Tory leadership candidate Ted Morton, who effectively dashed the hopes of moderate frontrunner Jim Dinning and cleared the path for Ed Stelmach's surprising win.
Those grassroots aren't exactly enamoured with Stelmach's government, particularly the new royalty regime.
While a last-minute merger likely won't allow enough time for voters to assess the competence and credibility of this new party before a predicted spring vote, it could represent a seismic shift in Alberta's political landscape in years to come.
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