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Local MLA backs Brian Jean for UCP leadership

With the merger vote between the PC Party and the Wildrose Party now successfully behind them, a leadership race is now underway for the newly minted United Conservative Party (UCP) of Alberta and Barrhead-Morinville-Westlock MLA Glenn van Dijken say

With the merger vote between the PC Party and the Wildrose Party now successfully behind them, a leadership race is now underway for the newly minted United Conservative Party (UCP) of Alberta and Barrhead-Morinville-Westlock MLA Glenn van Dijken says he is supporting former Wildrose leader Brian Jean.

“I am endorsing Brian Jean as the leader of the UCP Party because I believe he is the right person for the job,” van Dijken said, adding having worked with the man for the last two-and-a-half years, he believes Jean to be a team-builder as opposed to a one dictating direction.

van Dijken’s comments run contrary to Strathmore-Brooks MLA Derek Fildebrandt, who spoke to reporters Aug. 8 regarding his own decision to drop out of the UCP leadership race and claimed Jean was more interested in building his personal brand.

“A lot of people are saying that Brian stood in the way of unity but I believe quite the opposite. As far back as 2015, when we had our very first annual meeting following the election, he was right there telling members to invite their friends and neighbours to the table, encouraging them to have those conversations,” van Dijken said.

Brian Jean knew a strong Conservative party was needed in Alberta and put his own job on the line, he said.

“He [Brian] did not have to endorse the unification of the two parties but he felt it was in Alberta’s best interest and that, to me, shows leadership. He felt a responsibility to have that option put before members and he has always made decisions by listening to the people, whether regular Albertans or party members,” van Dijken said, adding that is the type of person he wants to lead the party moving forward.

“We have some people in both parties, both Wildrose and PC members, who have decided they aren’t happy with the merger going forward. It’s a small percentage. A large majority recognized the need to have this unification. 95 per cent of the membership of both parties chose to put their party hats aside for the betterment of this province.”

van Dijken said he believes party members will continue to be in the driver’s seat.

“The more members are involved, the better off we are. I believe in members being the voice of the party. At the end of the day, 75 per cent of Wildrose members had to agree to this direction and that was a big hurdle. When the merger was first being discussed, there was a lot of skepticism that such a obstacle could be overcome but it was and here we are. Significant changes in direction, such as merging with the PC’s, required a three-quarters mandate and so for the people that believe ‘no’ was the answer to the merger question, you have to remember that the party’s constitution was written in such a way that it wouldn’t be a flimsy party shifting one way or another.”

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