In a stunning political move Airdrie-Chestermere MLA Rob Anderson defected to the Wildrose Alliance Party on Jan. 4.

Anderson said the Progressive Conservative government has not addressed his concerns and those of his constituents, calling the current regime “totally dysfunctional.”

“I didn’t feel at home there because it wasn’t the democracy I believe in,” said Anderson. “My political loyalties reside with the people of Alberta and especially with those in the constituency of Airdrie-Chestermere, who elected me to represent them.”

Calgary-Fish Creek MLA Heather Forsyth also jumped ship to the Wildrose Alliance on Monday.

Anderson is a first-term MLA and was a member of the government’s Treasury Board committee. He hasn’t been afraid to speak out against the Tory party in recent months. He was a member of the so-called Fiscal Four, a group of MLAs demanding fiscal discipline from cabinet.

“We have sacrificed to get the debt under control and now we are borrowing billions of dollars and the recession is no excuse,” said Anderson. “This government spends more than any other jurisdiction in the country. Recessions are going to happen and when this one came, we weren’t ready. It’s alarming.”

Progressive Conservative policy isn’t developed by MLAs but by “a few people around the premier,” he added.

“We’ve got to be able to represent the constituency and vote, when that doesn’t happen it is undemocratic,” said Anderson.

Harold Davenport, Wildrose Alliance Highwood Constituency Association president, said the move by the two MLAs will help enhance the party’s status across the province.

“It’s very encouraging. I’ve been getting phone calls from people who are interested in joining the party,” he said.

The party has been riding high in the past year, electing its first MLA, selecting new leader Danielle Smith and beating the provincial Tories in recent polls.

“The polls are clear evidence the PCs have some problems they need to deal with,” said Davenport.

He said the party is hard at work building the local association. So far, the party’s Highwood association is one of the biggest in the province with 400 members.

0 Click Here to 'Like' this post

 Email This Post  Print This Post