Wildrose leader Brian Jean says it is time for all conservatives to unite behind a single party and he wants to be the one who leads it.
Speaking at a town-hall-style event held in the multipurpose room of the Barrhead Agrena Feb. 15, Jean said his purpose in holding the meeting was to gauge the willingness of both PC and Wildrose members to unify.
“I want to talk to you about the future of conservatism here in Alberta and what the future of that looks like,” Jean said to the crowd of more than 50 Wildrose and PC members of the community in attendance, adding it was important to recognize that any major decision about the future of the Wildrose party would not happen without the consultation of its members.
“For the last six years, we [Wildrose Party] have been the heartbeat of conservatism in Alberta and I don’t believe that the party has ever been in a stronger position than it is now to lead our province into a very bright future where we put the power back into the hands of the hard-working men and women of this province,” he said.
The goal is not to simply defeat the current government in the next election, Jean said.
“We have to look beyond that single purpose because there is something much more important and that is ensuring that we have generations of good government. I believe we can create a strong, principled conservative government that lasts for generations and is done so in a way that respects the grassroots principles of our [Wildrose] party.”
Jean said he has travelled across the province in an effort to consult with Albertans, to hear their concerns regarding a possible merger with the PC party.
“Albertans are looking for hope and while momentum is building behind the Wildrose party like I have never seen before, you have told me clearly that you do not want us [Wildrose and PC parties] to battle each other in the next election,” he said. “You want us to defeat the NDP and I believe the clearest direction I’ve received is to pursue a consolidated movement between the PCs and Wildrose, but only if we are able to do so maintaining our principles and grassroots way of doing things.”
Jean said he believes the path to unity lies in the unification of conservative-leaning Albertans.
“Shortly after the last election, I challenged our members and told them we needed to put aside our differences because we cannot afford an NDP government,” he said, adding for the 90 per cent that they [PCs and Wildrose members] have in common, the remaining 10 per cent needs to be set aside.
“We need to focus on the things that bring us together, our common values and the greater good, and we need to check our egos at the door,” he added.
Jean said that he does not believe self-interest should come before Alberta.
“I meant it and I will make sure that happens and that’s why if you as Albertans, as PC and Wildrose members, agree and approve a unity agreement, I’ll step down. Make no mistake, I plan on being Alberta’s next premier and I will earn your vote, but [stepping down as leader of the Wildrose Party] is a small price to pay if we can have one consolidated conservative movement going into the next election.”
Jean said time is critical.
“We have to be wary. I believe [Premier] Rachel Notley will call an election as soon as she can be assured of the results and I believe she will do so in 2018,” he said, adding Alberta cannot afford to remain complacent.
“We are the strongest opposition in three decades and I believe the best days for us are ahead of us,” he said.
“We can’t give up hope. I have seen, firsthand, the desperation in peoples’ eyes where families have lost their homes, their jobs or their businesses. I’m proud of where I come from and so should you. Good policies matter. Good government matters. You put your trust in them and should expect good results.”
Jean said one of the first things he would do if elected as premier would be to repeal the carbon tax.
“I know how much people hate the carbon tax and I promise you, if elected, I will get rid of it within 30 days of becoming premier. Some people may not realize the significance of that but if you look at your heating bill, you’ll notice they’ve gone up, based on consumption, roughly 40 per cent. We went from being one of the lowest places in North America for energy costs to one of the highest, aside from Ontario.”
