Infighting isn’t good for anyone, onlookers say

By ALEX McCUAIG Special to the News on May 15, 2021.

There is blood in the water when it comes to the UCP as the turbulent seas of Alberta politics have sent two of its own adrift. But with the UCP castaways vowing to keep what they see as the true conservative voice afloat and suspicions there may be more MLAs waiting to join the crew, opposition parties aren’t quite at the point in saying the UCP are dead in the water.

Chris Kohlman, president of the NDP’s joint constituency association for Cypress-, Brooks-Medicine Hat, says the last thing Albertans need is petty political infighting.

“It’s just a situation Albertans didn’t need,” said Kohlman regarding the UCP expelling MLAs Drew Barnes and Todd Loewen.

Whether it’s the resistance to public health restrictions or promotion of a detachment from the federal government, Kohlman said Barnes is “out of step with the majority of residents I have spoken to,” and his ouster from the UCP has “been a long time coming.”

As for his role as an independent for the riding, “I certainly hope he can be an advocate.”

On the other side of the spectrum, Wildrose Independent Party interim leader Paul Hinman said that organization’s door is open to Barnes.

“I’m looking forward to having some good discussions in the future,” said Hinman.

The upstart party is about free thinkers and free votes to allow its candidates to properly represent constituencies, said Hinman.

The former MLA and leader of the Wildrose and Alberta Alliance parties was asked if the current situation the UCP finds itself in is business as usual for conservative premiers in the province over the past 15 years.  

“We haven’t seen a conservative premier since Ralph (Klein),” responded Hinman, adding the greatest hopes for the UCP “have become our biggest disappointment.”

For the Alberta Party, which is looking to attract the roughly quarter of voters who don’t see themselves voting for either the NDP or UCP and more, its executive director says the lack of UCP caucus discipline is troubling.

Medicine Hat-based Troy Wason spent three decades with the PCs and witnessed the turbulence of party infighting but, “I’ve never seen anything like yesterday (Wednesday),” he said.

But Wason also expressed sympathy for the level of infighting being experienced by the UCP, saying, “I don’t wish their struggles on anyone and it’s really hard to come back from it.”

Wason said getting 50 or 60 people agree on anything can be difficult but caucus discipline should keep disagreements behind closed doors.

“You are in this together, you are a team,” said Wason. “If you go public, there is a penalty.”

Pointing to the fact there hasn’t been a conservative premier who has finished a full term since Ralph Klein due to successive in-party turmoil, Wason says when it comes to these situations, “historically, it doesn’t end well.”

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