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Several UCP MLAs, including candidates for leadership, say the party can be united through strong politics and respect after Federal MP Michelle Rempel Garner issued a long statement filled with fears that party members were too far apart. to overcome divisions.
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Rempel Garner was considering running for the party’s leadership before making an online statement saying she had decided not to jump into the province’s political picture. In the long post, she said she has everything to run, but there are fears that members are divided and that it will be very difficult for an outsider to take the reins and be set up to succeed in time for the general in the 2023 election.
“Many of the conversations I conducted while exploring this possibility confirm public announcements that there is a clear division,” Rempel Garner wrote on Thursday. “That is, those who do not want the former leadership team to retain power and those who are part of the former leadership team and want to fully maintain the status quo. None of these positions are sustainable. The public also has no sympathy for this. “
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Richard Gottfried, MLA for Calgary-Fish Creek, said in a statement Saturday that Rempel Garner’s impressions were insightful, but that he differed from her opinion. He believes there is an opportunity to solve problems affecting the party.
“We have the opportunity to fix it, but not without honesty, possibly some apologies, a little remorse and, most importantly, a commitment to do and be better,” Gottfried said. “Attitude is everything in life, and autocratic, arrogant and complacent attitudes have no place in building a reliable brand.
Gottfried said that if the UCP group did not put the needs of the Alberts before their own interests, then the party would not deserve or win anyone’s support.
“If two-thirds of Caucus simply want the status quo and put titles, payments and self-interest before the best interests of Alberts, then we may not deserve or have won not only the support of our membership, but more generally, that of Alberts. Said Gottfried.
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Leadership and MLA candidate for Fort McMurray-Lac La Bish, Brian Jean, meanwhile, said the way to unite the party is to focus on a policy that helps all Alberts.
“You are reuniting the UCP, respecting the grassroots and recognizing that the MLA of the UCP must make a meaningful contribution. “You also unite the UCP by having a ‘cabinet government’, with strong ministers with strong staff working with a prime minister who is not trying to run the whole government from the prime minister’s office,” Jean said.
Rebecca Schultz, who also seeks to lead the party, said she needed a leader to unite members around “shared conservative roots”, respecting party membership and helping the people of Albert.
“I am ready and excited to tackle these challenges,” Schultz said.
A new leader will be elected in October. There are currently eight declared candidates.
dshort@postmedia.com
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