Is there room for the Alberta Party?

With the recent interest in the WRAP here in Alberta, there has been chatter about how they will succeed in taking votes away from the Conservatives in the next election. It doesn't hurt that they have a young, attractive, and well spoken potential leader in Dannielle Smith. I won't speculate much about that leadership race as I don't understand the details, but I will suggest that the WRAP are getting their disproportionate percentage of the media coverage and discussion in the online communities.

In my opinion however, Smith is possibly barking up the wrong tree. I don't think the majority of Albertans are looking for a more conservative solution to our governmental problems. As much as Smith may say that she is a Libertarian, and even Link Byfield has written why it's ok that their social conservative party can be led by a Libertarian, the reality is that the party remains the home for the far right. In my opinion the far right is doomed forever as a relevant party position in nearly any jurisdiction. As our population gains a more urban nature, and tools like social media and the internet start to bring people together as informed equals, we are simply becoming more progressive on social issues.

From the left, the Liberals have discredited themselves by just hating everything about the PC's instead of creating their own separate vision for Albertans. Mostly they are an academic bunch who seem to revel in looking down on the "Stupid" Albertans who voted in this Government. This is a not a party for me, and certainly not for the average Albertan. The NDP are as radical as the WRAP, just as close-minded from the other side of the spectrum, and frankly irrelevant.

So, I wonder if many Albertans feel like I do? I wonder a lot lately about the left flank of our Progressive Conservative Party in Alberta. I am unhappy with the PC's failure to provide a progressive vision for the future on social issues, while trying to maintain an open environment for economic success. If you don't think it can be done, I would say that Brad Wall's Saskatchewan Party has done a dcent job in their first two years. Which leads me to wonder if there is room in Alberta for an Alberta Party. One that celebrates our independent and entreprenurial nature, yet resists the pandering to the social right. A small but loud-mouthed constituency that seems to be more concerend about who is sleeping with who, and how "God's word" might be reflected in our Government, Education, etc.

Properly thought -out, with a well distilled platform, I think an Alberta Party could fill a huge centrist vacuum which has been created by PC mismanagement and the voters lack of trust for the Liberals and WRAP. What this effort needs is a strong leader who is able to articulate to Albertans that they can be both things in a modern world. We can be indepenent and entreprenurial, we can maintain our "cowboy way" within Canada while staying relevant to the progression of humanity.

What are your thoughts?

Comments

[Edwin Erickson]

The movement to revitalize the Alberta Party has already begun, and I am proud to be part of it! The timing is right and the void that you folks describe is real.
I am former deputy-leader of the Alberta Green Party and a 2nd place finisher in the last 2 elections in the rural constituency of Drayton Valley-Calmar.
If you are interested in joining us, please contact me: edwin@ericksonforest.ca.

[Chris LaBossiere]

Jane:

Thanks for the link. I was speaking more metaphorically in comparison to the Saskatchewan Party, but thanks for the link.

Chris

[Jane Morgan]

The Alberta Party is an existing registered party. http://www.albertaparty.ab.ca/

[Chris LaBossiere]

Libertarian appeals to me politically in many ways, and yet I do expect my government to spend money to protect our environment etc.

But a libertarian government is not going to happen, and it shouldn't. A Libertarian leading a party that was founded by those that would like to see Government in the bedrooms of Albertans islaughable.

[Tory]

Being libertarian isn't "progressive" enough with regard to what you label "social issues"?

If what you want is a more activist environmental policy and state-funded arts, health, etc then what you are really asking for is a less ECONOMICALLY conservative party.

[Anon]

I think you should run Chris.

[Atypical Albertan]

Sometimes, I imagine an alernative universe where the PCs split up and the more socially conservative people find a home with the WRAP people, while the progressives find a new home with the other progressives in Alberta. We might do well under a two party state.

[Aden]

This is the party that I'm looking for, in better words than I could likely describe it. I'm a political orphan right now, and unable to really support any of the parties. Which is why I would be tremendously interested in this Alberta Party, were it to come into reality.
Please follow this post up with some more discussion on this topic.