Former Conservative MPs and MPs Doug Griffiths, Jim Foster, Lee Richardson and Ron Ghitter have all backed NDP candidates over the past week. Others, like former MP Cathy Olesen and strategist Ken Boessenkool, have expressed serious doubts about Danielle Smith’s ruling.
Former Alberta Deputy Prime Minister Thomas Lukaszuk even campaigned for the NDP in several election campaigns, including Calgary and Medicine Hat. He describes this election as an existential decision for the future of the province.
“I can think of no greater choice in our recent history. So I made the difficult decision to vote for Rachel Notley, roll up my sleeves, and start campaigning again. »
– A quote from Thomas Lukaszuk, former Progressive Conservative Vice Premier of Alberta
Danielle Smith (left) convinced MPs Rob Anderson, Heather Forsyth and Paul Hinman (left to right) to join the Wildrose Party in 2010.
Photo: The Canadian Press/Jeff McIntosh
I was an MP at the same time as Danielle Smith and Rachel Notley. I got to know her well. “With Rachel Notley we sometimes disagreed, but we shared values such as democracy, justice, freedom of the press, science and fact-based decisions,” says Thomas Lukaszuk.
Danielle Smith is a populist who has always had a difficult relationship with truth and facts, constantly changing her mind and saying what is politically practical. I don’t trust Danielle Smith to rule the province.
Take Back Alberta’s influence on the party
Doug Griffiths resigned from the Progressive Conservatives in 2015, a month after Danielle Smith, then leader of the Wildrose Party, joined its ranks. He says he has three issues with her and the United Conservative Party: Alberta’s Sovereignty Act, Danielle Smith’s lack of integrity, and Take Back Alberta’s influence on the party.
The leader of Take Back Alberta [David Parker] said that women’s place is not in the workplace but in the kitchen and that they should have as many children as possible. It’s an archaic, fanatical view. It’s unsettling. “I think there are many other fundamentalist and nationalist Christian denominations in this group,” says the former minister for local affairs.
” This group [Take Back Alberta] is radical, excessive and dangerous. He boasts about getting rid of Jason Kenney and putting Danielle Smith in power. She owes it to them. »
– A quote from Doug Griffiths, former Alberta Minister of Local Affairs
Lee Richardson notably served as Chief of Staff to Prime Minister Peter Lougheed, who is still revered by many Albertans. He says he no longer sees himself in the PCU today and will support his local New Democrat candidate Samir Kayande, who is impressed with his candidacy.
The largest group of indecisive people are people like me who worry, but aren’t satisfied with just worrying. For many, voting is a big step [pour le] NDP. “I think it’s ridiculous,” explains Lee Richardson, recalling the province’s socialist and collectivist roots.
Rachel Notley, leader of the NDP (left), and Danielle Smith, leader of the United Conservative Party (right).
Photo: The Canadian Press/Jeff McIntosh/Colette Derworiz
It’s not a big step for me to choose [pour le] NDP. For me there is not much difference between the parties. Nobody has ever promised to spend more than Danielle Smith, but people see the NDP as a bigger funder. “That’s just not true,” he continues.
“People are so fixated on their preconceived notions of what is conservative and what is new democratic. You have lost touch with reality. »
– A quote from Lee Richardson, former Conservative MP
Thomas Lukaszuk explains this by referring to the 44-year rule of the Progressive Conservatives, which he says spawned the idea of voting for a different party alien to Albertans.
Being conservative or progressive conservative has become their identity, like their family name or their religion. I tell you that you were not baptized as a curator. You can change your perception and accept someone else’s ideas if they are better. It’s new in Alberta, he thinks.
A big step?
The political scientist at the Saint-Jean campus of the University of Alberta Frédéric Boily observes that it is primarily former conservatives from the more progressive branch of the party who are sounding the alarm.
They were already disappointed with the development of the whole Conservative movement, but they are even more so now under Danielle Smith, as the party is taking a more radical direction, he explains.
However, Frédéric Boily wonders how important this movement is within the PCU and whether it will have a significant impact on the outcome of the May 29 election.
He draws a parallel with last year’s race for the Conservative leadership at the federal level, in which Jean Charest attempted to rally the more dovish Tories against the much more vindictive Pierre Poilievre. However, Pierre Poilievre easily won with 68% of the votes.
Jean Charest and Pierre Poilievre were the front-runners in the race for the Conservative leadership at the federal level.
Photo: The Canadian Press/Jeff McIntosh
The professor doesn’t think the party will really break up now. The marriage of convenience between the Wild Roses and the Progressive Conservatives will last as long as power is within reach, and seems within reach, he concludes.
Should Danielle Smith win, Thomas Lukaszuk and Doug Griffiths believe the Progressive Conservatives are likely to leave the party for good, either to form a new party or to join a more centrist NDP.