With the virtual coronation of Jason Kenney as leader of the provincial Progressive Conservatives well underway, new questions and challenges arise. I never subscribed to the view that the time frame was too short to unify under one banner. I certainly believe one conservative option is workable, just look to the Liberals in British Columbia, or Brad Wall’s Saskatchewan Party to fully understand what is needed. I always have to chuckle when I hear different people line up to say it can’t be done. In reality, I am just looking for one person who says it will be done. It makes trudging around this rock we call Mother Earth interesting, an example of why only five per cent of businesses make it, or why one per cent hold half of the world’s wealth. Hats off to guys like Kenney. He set a goal and achieved the first leg of it. I have no doubt that, with the cooperation of Brian Jean, he will accomplish what many Albertans want, a unified conservative party.
Now, of course, we will hear the screams that the PC Party of the great Peter Lougheed has been hijacked. I disagree.
Check your calendars - this is not 1970. Time has marched on and so have politics. In case you have not noticed we are short a real Liberal Party here in this province. Many of us have argued for years that the PC Party has been infiltrated by liberals as a means to gain power and become electable. Tommy Lukazuk, do you hear what I am saying? How about you Sandra Jansen? I am, of course, as blue as they come and I don’t hide it, I will be happy, however, to work with any red tory that crosses my path. We will wrestle over policy and come out with a balanced approach to guide this province in the end. Compromise is what is needed and I think we have learned our lesson in the last 10 years. If nothing else, we have a new group of players in Edmonton so this should help with the petty personal disagreements that can cause roadblocks.
The stage now is turned to negotiation. Brian Jean is all business and he has the background to back this up. He is a good negotiator and is already setting the table in his own way. Jason Kenney is a veteran politician with the required political capital to help him along. He also has the news cycle and the hype of winning a leadership with him. Will the next step in leading the process be as easy for either? Likely not. I also think that if a good candidate away from politics threw his or her name in, they might have a chance. See Nenshi, Trump or even O’Leary as recent examples. However, with the short time frame it may be best at this time to stay with people who can organize quickly and who understand party politics. One thing I am very confident of is that if everyone pulls together and works hard “Rocky” mountains can be moved.
I don’t want the loyalists to spoil the party, pardon the pun. In a lot of ways real Albertans have spoken. I do, however, look forward to getting back to a one member, one vote concept. Hopefully, we have all learned lessons about delegated leadership contests. The dislike between the PC’s and Wildrose is mostly fabricated by a few. In all honesty, most sit on the same federal Conservative boards so it is time to go along to get along.
Let’s not focus on what divides us, let us look at what keeps us together. Will the next phase of the process go without some hard feelings, and bad blood? Not a chance, but I caution all involved to remember one phrase… NDP!
