Wildrose Party#Leaders
{{short description|Defunct political party in Alberta, Canada}}
{{About||the unregistered 2007 party|Wildrose Party of Alberta|the unrelated present-day party|Wildrose Independence Party of Alberta}}
{{Coord|51.0434|N|114.0744|W|type:landmark_region:CA-AB|display=title}}
{{Infobox political party
| name = Wildrose Political Association
| logo = Wildrose Party logo 2017.png
| leader =
| president =
| chairman =
| chairperson =
| spokesperson =
| leader1_title =
| leader1_name =
| foundation = October 25, 2002{{cite web|title=The Twenty-sixth Annual Report of the Chief Electoral Officer|url=http://www.elections.ab.ca/wp-content/uploads/2008_ANNUAL_REPORT_NET_POSTING_JAN_14_2009.pdf| page=8 |access-date=January 22, 2012}}
Renamed Wildrose Alliance January 31, 2008
| dissolution = July 24, 2017 (de facto)
February 7, 2020 (de jure)
| merger = Alberta Alliance Party
Wildrose Party of Alberta
| split =
| predecessor =
| merged = United Conservative Party
| headquarters = Edmonton, Alberta
| ideology = Conservatism
Social conservatism{{cite web|url=http://news.nationalpost.com/news/canada/alberta-election-pits-pcs-red-versus-wildroses-blue-conservatives-experts-say|title=Alberta election pits PC's 'red' versus Wildrose's 'blue' conservatives, experts say|date=9 April 2012|website=nationalpost.com|access-date=3 April 2018}}
Direct democracy{{cite news|title=5 things to know about the Wildrose party|url=http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/5-things-to-know-about-the-wildrose-party-1.1192572}}
| position = {{nowrap|Centre-right to right-wing{{refn|{{cite book|author=Tom Lansford|title=Political Handbook of the World 2014|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=FDVzAwAAQBAJ&pg=PA242|year=2014|publisher=Sage Publications|isbn=978-1-4833-3327-4|page=242}}{{cite web |url=https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/jason-kenney|title=Jason Kenney|first=Tabitha|last=Marshall|date=April 12, 2019|website=The Canadian Encyclopedia|access-date=November 4, 2019|quote="he wanted to unite the province’s centre-right parties [...] In July, the PCs merged with the Wildrose Party"}}}}}}
| national =
| international =
| student_wing =
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| membership =
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| colours = Blue and Green
| colors =
| logo_size = 225
| colorcode = {{Canadian party colour|AB|Wildrose}}
| website =
| country = Canada
| state = Alberta
| parties_dab1 = List of political parties in Alberta
| elections_dab1 = List of Alberta general elections
| footnotes =
}}
The Wildrose Party (legally Wildrose Political Association,{{cite web|title=Wildrose Party Constitution |year=2014 |url=https://d3n8a8pro7vhmx.cloudfront.net/wildrose/pages/2871/attachments/original/1421189870/Wildrose_Party_Constitution_2015-01-13.pdf?1421189870 |publisher=Wildrose Party |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150115161541/https://d3n8a8pro7vhmx.cloudfront.net/wildrose/pages/2871/attachments/original/1421189870/Wildrose_Party_Constitution_2015-01-13.pdf?1421189870 |archive-date=2015-01-15 }} formerly the Wildrose Alliance Political Association) was a conservative{{cite book|author=Duane Bratt|title=Canada, the Provinces, and the Global Nuclear Revival: Advocacy Coalitions in Action|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=LWinNZN_FGAC&pg=PA244|year=2012|publisher=McGill-Queen's Press – MQUP|isbn=978-0-7735-4068-2|page=244}}{{cite news|url=http://news.nationalpost.com/news/canada/alberta-election-pits-pcs-red-versus-wildroses-blue-conservatives-experts-say |title=Alberta election pits PC's 'red' versus Wildrose's 'blue' conservatives, experts say |first=Karen |last=Kleiss |date=April 9, 2012 |newspaper=National Post|access-date=2015-05-23}} provincial political party in Alberta, Canada.{{cite web|title=Wildrose drops 'Alliance' from name|url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calgary/wildrose-drops-alliance-from-name-1.1026145|work=CBC News|access-date=24 July 2011|date=26 June 2011}} The party was formed by the merger in early 2008 of the Alberta Alliance Party and the unregistered Wildrose Party of Alberta. The wild rose is Alberta's provincial flower.
It contested the 2008 provincial election under the Wildrose Alliance banner, and received seven percent of the popular vote overall but failed to hold its single seat in the Legislative Assembly. Support for the party rose in 2009 when some voters were frustrated with the Progressive Conservative (PC) government. The party won a surprise win by outgoing leader Paul Hinman in an October by-election. In the fall of 2009 the party members elected Danielle Smith as leader, and by December the Wildrose was leading provincial opinion polls, ahead of both the governing PCs, the opposition Liberals and the other parties. Wildrose's caucus grew to four members in 2010, after two former PC members of the Legislative Assembly defected in January and an independent MLA joined the party in June of that year.
In the 2012 election, the party failed to have the breakthrough predicted by many media pundits, many of whom predicted that it would take a majority or plurality of seats in the Legislature and become the government. However, it increased its vote and seat totals. Securing the second-largest caucus in the Legislature, it was named the official opposition instead of the more natural choices, the Liberals or the NDP.
In December 2014, nine Wildrose MLAs, including the leader, Danielle Smith, left the party to join the Progressive Conservative caucus under its recently elected leader, Jim Prentice.[http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/edmonton/9-wildrose-mlas-including-danielle-smith-cross-to-alberta-tories-1.2876412 "9 Wildrose MLAs, including Danielle Smith, cross to Alberta Tories"]. CBC News, December 17, 2014. All of the defectors to the PCs who sought re-election in the 2015 general election lost their seats by not securing the Conservative nomination in their district or in the general election, to a Wildrose challenger.
Effective February 3, 2015, the party's registered name was changed from Wildrose Alliance Party to Wildrose Party.{{cite web |url=http://www.elections.ab.ca/public%20website/603.cfm |publisher=Elections Alberta |access-date=2015-02-21|title=Parties }}
On May 18, 2017, the leaders of the Wildrose and Progressive Conservative Association of Alberta announced a merger, which was ratified with 95% support of the membership of both parties in July 2017. The combined United Conservative Party held its inaugural leadership election on October 28, 2017.{{cite web|url=https://edmontonjournal.com/news/politics/alberta-conservative-unity-one-step-closer|title=Wildrose-PC members to vote on new united party July 22|date=19 May 2017|website=edmontonjournal.com|access-date=3 April 2018}} Due to previous legal restrictions that did not formally permit parties to merge or transfer their assets, the PC Party and Wildrose Party maintained a nominal existence and ran one candidate each in the 2019 election in order to prevent forfeiture of their assets. The UCP government later passed legislation allowing parties to merge, clearing the way for the Wildrose to formally dissolve on February 7, 2020.
History
=Founding and 2008 general election=
The Alberta Alliance Party voted to change its registered name on January 19, 2008, to the Wildrose Alliance after it merged with the unregistered Wildrose Party of Alberta.{{cite news |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/wildrose-alliance-party-born-in-alberta-1.704584 |title=Wildrose Alliance Party born in Alberta |publisher=Canadian Broadcasting Corporation |date=2008-01-19 |access-date=2015-05-23}} The name officially changed to Wildrose Alliance Party of Alberta after being approved by Elections Alberta on January 31, 2008.{{cite web |title=2008 Annual Report of the Chief Electoral Officer | url=http://www.elections.ab.ca/Public%20Website/files/Reports/2008_ANNUAL_REPORT_NET_POSTING_JAN_14_2009.pdf|publisher=Elections Alberta|access-date=January 21, 2012}}
The two parties had similar policies and the Wildrose had key personnel previously involved with the Alberta Alliance. They hoped that a union would allow the new party to present a stronger front for an anticipated election in the spring of 2008.{{cite web |url=http://www.ctvnews.ca/alta-parties-could-merge-for-anticipated-election-1.269706 |title=Alta. parties could merge for anticipated election |publisher=CTV News |date=2008-01-02 |access-date=2010-01-03}} Paul Hinman, the party's only sitting Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) remained leader after the merger. During the 27th Alberta general election, the Wildrose Alliance attempted to position itself as a conservative alternative to the governing PC party, and released a platform that promised fixed election dates, increasing personal tax exemptions, elimination of health care premiums, the creation of an Alberta Pension Plan, and a reworking of the controversial changes the PC government made to the oil and gas royalty regime.{{cite web |url=http://www.orleansstar.ca/pages/article.php?noArticle=24714019&CP=1 |title=Wildrose Alliance unveils Alberta election platform; targets premier Ed Stelmach |publisher=Canadian Press |date=2008-02-09 |access-date=2010-01-03}} {{Dead link|date=September 2010|bot=H3llBot}}
An anticipated backlash against the governing PCs failed to materialize, as Premier Ed Stelmach extended his party's seat total to 72 from 60.{{cite web |url=http://www.canada.com/story_print.html?id=9997356d-01a6-43f9-a658-8fb269ab0450&sponsor= |title='Ed, Ed, Ed,' chant triumphant Tories |work=Calgary Herald |date=2008-03-04 |access-date=2010-01-03 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121107181400/http://www.canada.com/story_print.html?id=9997356d-01a6-43f9-a658-8fb269ab0450&sponsor= |archive-date=2012-11-07 |url-status=dead }} While the Alliance finished second in eight ridings across the province, they failed to win any seats as Hinman lost his Cardston-Taber-Warner riding by just 39 votes.{{cite news |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/wildrose-alliance-shut-out-1.761801 |title=Wildrose Alliance shut out |publisher=Canadian Broadcasting Corporation |date=2008-03-03 |access-date=2015-05-23}} Running candidates in 61 of the province's 83 ridings, the Alliance took 6.8% of the vote, fourth behind the PCs, Liberals and New Democrats.{{cite web |url=http://www.elections.ab.ca/Public%20Website/files/Reports/Part8.pdf |title=Participants and results of the 2008 election |publisher=Elections Alberta |access-date=2010-01-03}}
=2009 leadership election=
{{further|Wildrose Alliance Party leadership election, 2009}}
Hinman announced on April 20, 2009, his intention to step down as leader. He remained the party's leader in an interim capacity until the leadership convention.{{cite web|url=http://www.chroniclejournal.com/stories_national.php?id=180741 |title=Paul Hinman will step down as Wildrose-Alliance party leader after losing seat |publisher=Canadian Press |date=2009-04-21 |access-date=2010-01-03 }}{{dead link|date=January 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} Former Canadian Federation of Independent Business provincial director Danielle Smith and Mark Dyrholm, a chiropractor in Calgary, announced their candidacy at the June convention.{{cite web |last=Dormer |first=Dave |url=http://cnews.canoe.ca/CNEWS/Politics/2009/06/07/9704666-sun.html |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120711031743/http://cnews.canoe.ca/CNEWS/Politics/2009/06/07/9704666-sun.html |url-status=usurped |archive-date=July 11, 2012 |title=Alberta Wildrose party to name leader |work=Calgary Sun |date=2009-06-07 |access-date=2010-01-03}} The party viewed the leadership campaign with optimism, announcing that its membership was growing rapidly as Albertans grew increasingly frustrated with the Stelmach government's performance.{{cite web |last=Cotter |first=John |url=http://www.canadaeast.com/front/article/658898 |title=Former Canadian independent business leader considers Alberta party leadership bid |publisher=Canadian Press |date=2009-05-06 |access-date=2010-01-03}}
Growing opposition to the government's oil and gas royalty program, a record $4.7 billion deficit in 2009,{{cite news |last=Steward |first=Gillian |url=https://www.thestar.com/comment/columnists/article/632640 |title=Wildrose watches its garden grow |work=Toronto Star |date=2009-05-12 |access-date=2010-01-04}} and the PC's "liberal spending" facilitated the growth of the party.{{cite web|last=Libin |first=Kevin |url=https://nationalpost.com/m/story.html?id=1775504&s=Related+Topics&is=Joe%20Clark&it=Person |title=Wildrose Alliance sets sights on Alberta conservatives |work=National Post |date=2009-07-09 |access-date=2010-01-04 }}{{dead link|date=January 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} The party began to attract former Reform Party of Canada supporters along with high-profile former members of the provincial Progressive Conservatives, including former premier Ralph Klein's father.{{cite web |last=McIntyre |first=Doug |url=http://www.edmontonsun.com/news/alberta/2009/09/10/10814701-sun.html |title=Ralph's dad 'changing stripes' |work=Edmonton Sun |date=2009-09-10 |access-date=2010-01-04}}{{cite web |last=Diotte |first=Kerry |url=http://www.edmontonsun.com/news/alberta/2009/08/12/10433651-sun.html |title=Many former Reformers backing Wildrose Alliance: leadership hopeful |work=Edmonton Sun |date=2009-08-12 |access-date=2010-01-04}} Using the slogan "Send Ed a message" as a rallying cry,{{cite web |last=Kohler |first=Nicholas |url=http://www.macleans.ca/news/canada/sending-ed-a-message/ |title=Sending Ed a message |work=Maclean's Magazine |date=2009-09-10 |access-date=2015-05-23}} Paul Hinman sought to take advantage of public discontent as he ran in a September by-election in the Calgary-Glenmore riding.{{cite web |last=Bell |first=Rick |url=http://www.edmontonsun.com/news/alberta/2009/09/13/10868456-sun.html |title=Ed no help to Tory candidate |work=Calgary Sun |date=2009-09-13 |access-date=2010-01-04}} He surprised political observers by capturing 37 percent of the vote, narrowly defeating Liberal opponent Avalon Roberts to win the election and gain the Wildrose Alliance its first seat in the legislature. The Tories, who had held the riding uninterrupted since 1969, fell to third place.{{cite news |url=http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calgary/wildrose-alliance-wins-calgary-glenmore-byelection-1.794120 |title=Wildrose Alliance wins Calgary-Glenmore by-election |publisher=Canadian Broadcasting Corporation |date=2009-09-14 |access-date=2015-05-23}} Political observers argued the result was more a protest against the Stelmach government than firm support for the Alliance, though it gave the party momentum as it prepared to vote for a leader.{{cite web|last=Audette |first=Trish |url=https://vancouversun.com/technology/Wildrose+success+attributed+governing+Tories/2084410/story.html |title=Wildrose success attributed to governing Tories |work=Vancouver Sun |date=2009-10-09 |access-date=2010-01-04 }}{{dead link|date=January 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}
{{Quote box
| quote =Every 30 or 40 years, we get tired of the government that’s in power and we sweep them out and we look to a new alternative. I think we have an opportunity to catch one of those historic waves.
| source = Danielle Smith upon being named Wildrose Alliance leader{{Cite web |last=White |first=Tarina |url=http://www.calgarysun.com/news/alberta/2009/10/19/11452061.html |title=Wave of change could topple Tories |work=Calgary Sun |date=2009-10-19 |access-date=2010-01-04}}
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Smith and Dyrholm both attempted to capitalize on the party's election win, proclaiming that Albertans wanted change and that each of them would lead the Wildrose Alliance to a victory in the next general election.{{cite news |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calgary/wildrose-alliance-leadership-candidates-face-upbeat-crowd-1.783906 |title=Wildrose Alliance leadership candidates face upbeat crowd |publisher=Canadian Broadcasting Corporation |date=2009-10-17 |access-date=2015-05-23}} The party experienced a considerable growth heading into the leadership election, announcing it had 11,670 members at the beginning of October, compared to 1,800 in June.{{cite web|last=Audette |first=Trish |url=https://vancouversun.com/technology/Wildrose+support+blooms/2080964/story.html |title=Wildrose support blooms |work=Vancouver Sun |date=2009-10-08 |access-date=2010-01-04 }}{{dead link|date=January 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} Smith was elected the new leader at the convention held in Edmonton on October 17.{{cite news |url=http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/edmonton/smith-elected-wildrose-party-leader-1.846063 |title=Smith elected Wildrose Party leader |publisher=Canadian Broadcasting Corporation |date=2009-10-17 |access-date=2015-05-23}}
=Danielle Smith leadership=
File:Wildrose Leader Danielle Smith.jpg
Upon her election, Smith sought to continue the party's growth, focusing her efforts on fundraising and a search for strong candidates.
The Wildrose Alliance's growth was evident in the polls. Shortly before Smith's election, a Return on Insight poll found that the Alliance had the support of 22 percent of respondents.{{cite web |last=D'Aliesio |first=Renata |url=https://calgaryherald.com/news/Stelmach+poised+speech+amid+sagging+polls/2099162/story.html |title=Stelmach poised for speech amid sagging polls |work=Calgary Herald |date=2009-10-14 |access-date=2010-01-04 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091016104051/http://www.calgaryherald.com/news/Stelmach+poised+speech+amid+sagging+polls/2099162/story.html |archive-date=2009-10-16 }} By early November, the party had improved to 28 percent according to an Environics poll, firmly in second place and six points behind the Conservatives.{{cite web|last=Fekete |first=Jason |url=http://www.canada.com/technology/Alberta+Tories+slide+Wildrose+gains+poll/2186644/story.html |title=Alberta Tories slide, Wildrose gains in new poll |work=Calgary Herald |date=2009-11-05 |access-date=2010-01-04 }}{{dead link|date=January 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} By December, they topped the Tories, leading with 39 percent support according to an Angus Reid poll, while the Conservatives had fallen into a second place tie with the Liberals at 25 percent.{{cite web |last=Liebrecht |first=Richard |url=http://www.edmontonsun.com/news/alberta/2009/12/13/12138491-sun.html |title=Wildrose growing strong: party rep |work=Calgary Sun |date=2009-12-13 |access-date=2010-01-04}} The party revealed at the same time that it had grown to over 13,000 members.{{cite news |url=http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calgary/albertans-eyeing-wildrose-alliance-1.786000 |title=Albertans eyeing Wildrose Alliance |publisher=Canadian Broadcasting Corporation |access-date=2015-05-23 | date=2009-12-29}}
Amidst this wave of popularity, Smith announced on January 4, 2010, that two former Conservative MLAs had crossed the floor. Rob Anderson and former cabinet minister Heather Forsyth announced that they had joined the Wildrose Alliance after growing frustrated with Ed Stelmach's leadership, accusing the Conservative government of being undemocratic.{{cite news |url=http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calgary/2-alberta-mlas-join-upstart-wildrose-party-1.924955 |title=2 Alberta MLAs join upstart Wildrose party |publisher=Canadian Broadcasting Corporation |date=2010-01-04 |access-date=2015-05-23}} The defections moved the Wildrose Party past the New Democrats to become the third largest party in the Legislature,{{cite web|last=Fekete |first=Jason |url=https://nationalpost.com/news/canada/politics/story.html?id=2404005 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20100108010218/http://www.nationalpost.com/news/canada/politics/story.html?id=2404005 |url-status=dead |archive-date=2010-01-08 |title=Alberta Conservative dynasty erodes as Tory MLAs defect to upstart Wildrose Alliance |work=National Post |date=2010-01-04 |access-date=2010-01-04 }} Guy Boutilier joined the Wildrose Alliance on June 24, 2010. The fourth Wildrose MLA, Boutilier took the party over the threshold for recognition as an official party in the Assembly.{{cite news |title=Wildrose Alliance gains official party status |newspaper=CTV Television Network |date=25 June 2010 |url=https://calgary.ctvnews.ca/wildrose-alliance-gains-official-party-status-1.526518 }} He was unveiled at the party's annual conference, which was attended by 700 people: up from 175 the previous year.{{cite news |title=Wildrose Alliance kicks off coming-out party |first=Archie |last=McLean |newspaper=Edmonton Journal |date=25 June 2010 |url=https://edmontonjournal.com/news/Wildrose+Alliance+kicks+coming+party/3202872/story.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100628141600/http://www.edmontonjournal.com/news/Wildrose+Alliance+kicks+coming+party/3202872/story.html |archive-date=28 June 2010 |df=dmy-all |access-date=26 June 2010 }}
In late July 2010, a controversy developed between Edmonton mayor Stephen Mandel and Smith over the future of the city-centre airport. Smith argued that a vote on closure of the airport should be added to the October civic elections ballot. Alberta Liberal and NDP politicians also opposed the closure.{{cite news |title=Wildrose Alliance, mayor square off over airport |date=30 June 2010 |url=https://edmonton.ctvnews.ca/wildrose-alliance-mayor-square-off-over-airport-1.537464}}
For much of the run-up to the 2012 provincial election, it looked like the Wildrose would defeat the Tories in a landslide. Polling immediately before the election suggested that the gap had narrowed somewhat, but that the Wildrose was still poised to end the PCs' 41-year tenure in government. In the general election, however, the Wildrose took 17 seats out of 87, well behind the Tories. This was mainly because its support was confined to rural areas. The Wildrose only won two seats in Calgary (while losing the two seats it held there at dissolution) and were completely shut out of Edmonton. Nonetheless, it tallied 34.3 percent of the popular vote, a healthy increase from 2008. This was, however, enough to make the Wildrose the Official Opposition for the first time.
In 2014, Allison Redford stepped down as PC leader following numerous scandals, and polls began to show a resurgence in Wildrose support. Jim Prentice then won the PC leadership and called four by-elections to get his new cabinet, which included former Edmonton Mayor Stephen Mandel, seats in the Legislature. The Wildrose was expected to win two out of the four seats; however the PCs retained all four. The by-elections were seen as a test of both the PC Party under its new leader and Wildrose.{{cite web|title=Alberta byelections swept by Jim Prentice's Progressive Conservative Party|url=http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calgary/alberta-byelections-swept-by-jim-prentice-s-progressive-conservative-party-1.2815059|publisher=CBC News|access-date=October 29, 2014|date=October 27, 2014}} As a result of the by-election losses, Smith asked the party to conduct a leadership review.{{cite news|title=Danielle Smith asked to withdraw leadership review request|url=http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/edmonton/danielle-smith-asked-to-withdraw-leadership-review-request-1.2821409|access-date=December 18, 2014|work=CBC News|date=November 2, 2014}} On November 2, 2014, after Rimbey-Rocky Mountain House-Sundre MLA Joe Anglin left the Wildrose caucus to sit as an independent due to the party's "turmoil" and after making criticisms of Smith's leadership team internally.,{{cite web|title=Joe Anglin quits Wildrose caucus, will sit as independent|url=http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calgary/joe-anglin-quits-wildrose-caucus-will-sit-as-independent-1.2821248|publisher=CBC News|access-date=November 2, 2014|date=November 2, 2014}} the remaining members of caucus unanimously pass a resolution asking Smith to withdraw her request for a leadership review; Smith agreed. At the party's Annual General Meeting on November 15, 2014, Smith pledged to resign as Wildrose leader if the party did not win government in the next provincial election.{{cite news|title=Danielle Smith will step down if she doesn't become premier in 2016|url=http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/edmonton/danielle-smith-will-step-down-if-she-doesn-t-become-premier-in-2016-1.2836198|access-date=December 18, 2014|date=November 14, 2014}} Also at the AGM, members voted 148–109 against a resolution supporting equal rights for all minority groups, regardless of race, religious belief, sexual orientation or other differences. This vote reversed a party policy supported by Smith which had been adopted the previous year and signified a shift by the party towards social conservatism resulting in resignations by more moderate party members.{{cite news|title=Wildrose party backtracks on statement affirming equal rights for all|url=http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/edmonton/wildrose-party-backtracks-on-statement-affirming-equal-rights-for-all-1.2836745|access-date=December 18, 2014|work=CBC News|date=November 15, 2014}}{{cite news|title=A timeline of the Wildrose party|url=https://edmontonjournal.com/news/edmonton/timeline+Wildrose+party/10661119/story.html|access-date=December 18, 2014|work=Edmonton Journal|date=December 17, 2014|archive-date=January 1, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150101114015/http://www.edmontonjournal.com/news/edmonton/timeline+Wildrose+party/10661119/story.html|url-status=dead}}
==Defections==
On November 3, 2014, Joe Anglin (Rimbey-Rocky Mountain House-Sundre) quit the caucus to sit as an Independent MLA stating that he had found out he was out to be expelled due to his public criticisms of Smith's advisers. Anglin had previously lost his bid to be renominated in his riding as Wildrose's candidate for the next provincial election.{{cite news|title=Joe Anglin quits Wildrose caucus to sit as independent|url=http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calgary/joe-anglin-quits-wildrose-caucus-to-sit-as-independent-1.2821248|access-date=November 24, 2014|publisher=CBC News|date=November 3, 2014}}
On November 24, 2014 Kerry Towle, (Innisfail-Sylvan Lake), and Ian Donovan, (Little Bow) crossed the floor to join the ruling PC Party's caucus giving the turmoil within the Wildrose Party, uncertainty about Smith's leadership and confidence in Prentice as reasons for their move.{{cite news|title=Two Wildrose members crossing the floor to join Tories|url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/alberta/two-wildrose-members-crossing-the-floor-to-join-tories-sources-say/article21733277/|access-date=November 24, 2014|work=The Globe and Mail|date=November 24, 2014}}
On December 17, 2014, Smith confirmed she and eight other Wildrose members – Rob Anderson, Gary Bikman, Rod Fox, Jason Hale, Bruce McAllister, Blake Pedersen, Bruce Rowe and Jeff Wilson – would cross the floor to the Progressive Conservative caucus, with Smith saying "Under Premier Prentice’s strong leadership, I believe we can work together to lead Alberta with a renewed focus on the values and principles that we share." The action followed several days of rumours and a PC caucus meeting in which that party agreed to accept the Wildrose members.{{cite news|title=Nine Wildrose MLAs bolt for Alberta PC Party|url=http://metronews.ca/news/calgary/1242550/nine-wildrose-mlas-bolt-for-alberta-pc-party/|access-date=December 17, 2014|work=Metro|date=December 17, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141218030000/http://metronews.ca/news/calgary/1242550/nine-wildrose-mlas-bolt-for-alberta-pc-party/|archive-date=December 18, 2014|url-status=dead|df=mdy-all}} Smith said that several conversations with Prentice revealed that they shared much common ground, particularly on fiscal issues. Ultimately, she concluded that it made little sense for her to continue in opposition. "If you’re going to be the official Opposition leader," she said, "you have to really want to take down the government and really take down the premier. I don't want to take down this premier. I want this premier to succeed."[https://www.thestar.com/news/canada/2014/12/17/albertas_wildrose_leader_and_eight_members_join_prentice_government.html Alberta’s Wildrose leader and eight members join Prentice government]. Canadian Press, 2014-12-17.
This reduced the Wildrose caucus to five members. In her formal resignation letter to the Wildrose executive, Smith asked that all party members vote on a "reunification resolution" to merge the Wildrose and PC parties; a request which the party executive rejected.{{cite news|last1=Wood|first1=James|title=Wildrose MLAs and leader bolt to Tories, leaving opposition decimated|url=https://calgaryherald.com/news/politics/majority-of-wildrose-mlas-likely-to-cross-floor-to-prentices-tory-government|access-date=December 18, 2014|work=Calgary Herald|date=December 17, 2014}} This development angered many party members and provoked widespread controversy.Braid, Don. 18 December 2014. "How could Smith do that to her party?". Calgary Herald.
The defections placed Wildrose in a tie with the Liberals for the second most seats but the Speaker ruled that Wildrose would continue as the Official Opposition based on prior precedent. Official Opposition status comes with additional funding and privileges.{{cite web|url=http://www.edmontonsun.com/2014/12/23/wildrose-stays-as-official-opposition-in-alberta|title=Wildrose stays as official opposition in Alberta}} In the wake of the mass floor crossing, new leader Brian Jean stated that each candidate must sign a contract, under which they would need to pay a $100,000 fine if they intend to cross the floor to another party.{{cite web|title=Brian Jean to move forward with $100K floor-crossing clause |url=http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/edmonton/brian-jean-to-move-forward-with-100k-floor-crossing-clause-1.3014721|work=cbc.ca|access-date=15 June 2015|date=30 March 2015}}
{{See also|2015 Wildrose Party leadership election}}
=2015 election=
File:Alberta Provincial Election, 2015 results by riding - Wildrose party strength.png
Former federal MP Brian Jean was elected Wildrose leader on March 28, 2015. Days later, Premier Jim Prentice called a provincial election for May 5, 2015 which resulted in an upset victory by the Alberta New Democratic Party under Rachel Notley, returning an NDP majority government. Despite its lack of preparedness, due to the caucus defections and having to organize an election campaign on the heels of a leadership election, Wildrose was able to rally and win 21 seats, 16 more than the five seats it had at the dissolution of the legislature, and four more than it had won in 2012, allowing the party to remain the Official Opposition. Prentice's Progressive Conservatives, however, collapsed and lost 60 of the 70 seats it had at dissolution, returning only 10 MLAs, finding itself out of power for the first time since 1971 and coming in third behind the NDP and Wildrose.{{cite news|title=Alberta election 2015 results: NDP wave sweeps across province in historic win|url=http://www.cbc.ca/news/elections/alberta-votes/alberta-election-2015-results-ndp-wave-sweeps-across-province-in-historic-win-1.3062605|access-date=May 6, 2015|work=CBC News|date=May 5, 2015}} Wildrose's popular vote fell by one-third, however, from 34% of the vote in 2012 to 24% in 2015.{{cite news|title=NDP wins majority government in Alberta, ending PC dynasty|url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/alberta/alberta-votes-2015/article24269623/|access-date=May 6, 2015|work=Globe and Mail|date=May 5, 2015}}
=Merger with Progressive Conservatives=
Former federal Conservative cabinet minister Jason Kenney became Progressive Conservative leader after winning that party's leadership election in early 2017. Kenney's platform called for uniting the Progressive Conservative and Wildrose parties to form a united right-of-centre alliance. On March 20, 2017, Jean met with Kenney to begin unity discussions.{{Cite news|url=http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/edmonton/brian-jean-jason-kenney-take-first-steps-toward-uniting-alberta-conservative-parties-1.4033389|title=Brian Jean, Jason Kenney take first steps toward uniting Alberta conservative parties|work=CBC News|access-date=2017-04-19|language=en}}
On May 18, 2017, Jean and Kenney announced that their two parties had come to a merger agreement pending the outcome of votes to be held by the membership of both parties on July 22, 2017. The merger proposal required the approval of 50%+1 of Progressive Conservative members and 75% of Wildrose members in order to be ratified.
Of the 42,617 Wildrose members eligible to vote on July 22, 2017, there was a 57 per cent turnout with 23,466 voters (95%) in favour of the agreement and 1,132 (5%) against, clearing the 75% threshold required by the party's constitution. The Progressive Conservative membership also approved the agreement by a margin of 95% to 5%. With a turnout of 55% of eligible members, 25,692 PC members voted yes and 1,344 voted no with 24 spoiled ballots; the party's constitution required a simple majority of its membership to approve the merger.{{cite news|title=Wildrose votes yes to unity with 95% of the vote|url=https://calgaryherald.com/news/politics/wildrose-party-members-votes-95-5-per-cent-in-favour-of-joining-united-conservative-party|access-date=July 22, 2017|work=Calgary Herald|date=July 22, 2017}}
The parties then began the process of merging into the United Conservative Party, with a leadership election to occur on October 28, 2017, and a founding convention to be held in 2018. The UCP formally came into existence on July 24, with former Wildrose MLA Nathan Cooper as interim leader.
=Current legal status and official dissolution=
Because Alberta electoral law did not permit parties to formally merge (or even to transfer money among themselves), the PC and Wildrose parties did not formally dissolve upon creation of the new UCP. As a result, when the UCP came into existence on July 24, 2017; the UCP's interim leadership team formally assumed the leaderships of the PC and Wildrose parties as well. In that role, they withdrew both organizations from any meaningful public presence, thus effectively dissolving them although they continued to exist on paper. In order to give de facto effect to the merger, all Wildrose members in good standing as of July 24 became members of the UCP from that date, and all but a few Wildrose members formally withdrew their memberships in the Wildrose. Legally, the core leadership team of the UCP remained members of both the PC and Wildrose parties.
To maintain their registration through the 2019 Alberta general election, both the PCs and Wildrose ran one paper candidate each in that election. Both of these nominal candidates appeared on the ballot in Edmonton-Strathcona, the district held by incumbent Premier Notley and considered among the NDP's safest seats.
The newly elected UCP government passed legislation allowing parties to merge during the Fall 2019 legislative session. On February 7, 2020, the merger was formally approved by Elections Alberta, allowing the party to officially merge with the PCs and dissolve.{{Cite web|url=https://calgary.ctvnews.ca/wildrose-and-alberta-pcs-are-no-more-after-elections-alberta-approves-merger-1.4802340|title=Wildrose and Alberta PCs are no more after Elections Alberta approves merger|last=Franklin|first=Michael|date=2020-02-07|website=Calgary|language=en|access-date=2020-03-23}}
Policy and identity
Election reform was a focus of the Wildrose Alliance. The party proposed to set fixed election dates rather than the current format which allows the Premier to call an election at any time. It would allow more free votes in the legislature and would seek to elect the province's Senators rather than have them appointed by the Prime Minister.{{cite web |url=http://www.wildrosealliance.ca/pdf/WRAP_Policy_Summary.pdf |title=Wildrose Alliance policy platform |publisher=Wildrose Alliance Party of Alberta |access-date=2010-01-09 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091229105129/http://www.wildrosealliance.ca/pdf/WRAP_Policy_Summary.pdf |archive-date=December 29, 2009}} The party also planned to introduce a bill giving voters the right to recall their MLA.{{cite web |last=McLean |first=Archie |url=http://www.globaltvedmonton.com/world/Wildrose+wants+Albertans+have+ability+recall+MLAs/2407722/story.html |title=Stelmach leadership vote 'little third world' |publisher=Global Television |date=2010-01-06 |access-date=2010-01-09 |archive-date=2012-02-28 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120228202428/http://www.globaltvedmonton.com/world/Wildrose+wants+Albertans+have+ability+recall+MLAs/2407722/story.html |url-status=dead }} The Wildrose Party proposed numerous changes to how the province delivers health care, which it claimed will remain compliant with the Canada Health Act, as well as controls on government spending. Smith was also critical of international climate change treaties, believing climate change science remains inconclusive.{{cite web|last=D'Aliesio |first=Renata |url=http://www.canada.com/technology/Wildrose+becomes+unlikely+contender/2369754/story.html |title=Wildrose becomes unlikely contender |work=Calgary Herald |date=2009-12-22 |access-date=2010-01-06 }}{{dead link|date=January 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}
Smith stated that controversial social issues would not play a part in the party's election platform.{{Cite web|last=Fekete |first=Jason |url=https://calgaryherald.com/news/Wildrose+unveils+vision/2205217/story.html |title=Wildrose unveils its vision |work=Calgary Herald |date=2009-11-10 |access-date=2010-01-06 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091114084915/http://www.calgaryherald.com/news/Wildrose+unveils+vision/2205217/story.html |archive-date=November 14, 2009 }} In 2014, a Wildrose insider told Calgary Herald editorial page editor Licia Corbella that Smith had grown increasingly uncomfortable leading a party with a strong tinge of social conservatism.Corbella, Licia. [https://theprovince.com/opinion/columnists/Corbella+Danielle+Smith+leads+bounty+mutiny/10658490/story.html Danielle Smith leads a bounty of mutiny]. Calgary Herald, 2014-12-18.
Leaders
=Alberta Alliance leaders=
- Randy Thorsteinson, 2003–2005
- Eleanor Maroes, 2005 {{small|(interim)}}
- Paul Hinman, 2005–2008
=Wildrose leaders=
- Paul Hinman, 2008–2009
- Danielle Smith, 2009–2014
- Heather Forsyth, 2014–2015 {{small|(interim)}}
- Brian Jean, 2015–2017
Members of the Legislative Assembly
Permanent party leaders in bold. The entire caucus crossed the floor to the United Conservative Party in 2017.
Electoral results
| class="wikitable" style="text-align: right;" |
| Election
!colspan=2|Banner !Leader !Candidates !Votes !% !Seats !+/- !Position !Government |
|---|
| 2004
|{{Canadian party colour|AB|Alliance|background}}| |83 / 83 |77,506 |8.7 |{{Composition bar|1|83|hex={{Canadian party colour|AB|Alliance}}}} |{{increase}} 1 |{{increase}} 4th |{{no2|No status}} |
| 2008
|Wildrose Alliance |{{Canadian party colour|AB|Wildrose Alliance|background}}| |61 / 83 |64,407 |6.8 |{{Composition bar|0|83|hex={{Canadian party colour|AB|Wildrose Alliance}}}} |{{decrease}} 1 |{{steady}} 4th |{{N/A}} |
| 2012
|rowspan=3|Wildrose |rowspan=3 {{Canadian party colour|AB|Wildrose|background}}| |87 / 87 |442,429 |34.3 |{{Composition bar|17|87|hex={{Canadian party colour|AB|Wildrose}}}} |{{increase}} 17 |{{increase}} 2nd |{{no2|Opposition}} |
| 2015
|86 / 87 |360,101 |24.2 |{{Composition bar|21|87|hex={{Canadian party colour|AB|Wildrose}}}} |{{increase}} 4 |{{steady}} 2nd |{{no2|Opposition}} |
| 2019{{efn|name="I'm not dead"|Although the party was merged into the United Conservative Party, it along with Albertan Progressive Conservatives weren't fully and legally dissolved, under provincial law until 2020 and were required to run at least one candidate to avoid having the party's assets revert to the province.}}
|1 / 87{{efn|name="I'm not dead"}} |48 |nil |{{Composition bar|0|87|hex={{Canadian party colour|AB|Wildrose}}}} |{{decrease}} 21 |{{decrease}} 14th |{{eliminated|No seats}} |
=Polling=
According to polls in 2010, the party had the support of a quarter of the electorate{{cite web|url=https://nationalpost.com/news/Wildrose+continues+make+Alberta+inroads+poll/3009004/story.html |archive-url=https://archive.today/20100630081253/http://www.nationalpost.com/news/Wildrose+continues+make+Alberta+inroads+poll/3009004/story.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=2010-06-30 |title=Wildrose continues to make Alberta inroads poll |publisher=National Post, from the Calgary Herald |access-date=2010-10-25 }} as the party further attempted to define itself as not just a protest party but a party capable of forming government. By July 2011, the Wildrose's support had fallen to 16 percent, while PC support had risen to 51 percent.{{cite web|title=Alberta PCs on track for another massive majority, poll shows |url=https://calgaryherald.com/news/Alberta+track+another+massive+majority+poll+shows/5173053/story.html |work=Calgary Herald |access-date=1 Sep 2011 |date=29 July 2011 }}{{dead link|date=January 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} Conversely, one March 2012 poll reported that Wildrose had the support of four-in-ten Albertans, a much stronger result than other polls.{{cite web|title=Wildrose Party would form majority Alberta government: Poll |url=http://cnews.canoe.ca/CNEWS/Politics/2012/03/28/19559491.html|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120709045539/http://cnews.canoe.ca/CNEWS/Politics/2012/03/28/19559491.html|url-status=usurped|archive-date=July 9, 2012|work=CANOE|access-date=28 March 2012|date=28 March 2012}}
See also
Notes
{{notelist}}
References
{{reflist|2}}
{{Wildrose Party}}
{{Alberta provincial political parties}}
{{Canadian Conservative Parties}}
{{United Conservative Party}}
Category:Conservative parties in Canada
Category:Organizations based in Edmonton
Category:Political parties established in 2002
Category:Political parties disestablished in 2017
Category:Provincial political parties in Alberta