Tag: united conservative party

Alberta Extending Fuel Tax Relief Program Until End of the Year, Premier Says

Alberta’s United Conservative Party government says it’s sticking to its campaign promise to extend the fuel tax relief program until the end of the year. Premier Danielle Smith says the program, which saves Albertans 13 cents per litre at the pumps, was set to expire at the end of this month. The pause on the…


Shawn Whatley: How Danielle Smith Could Transform Health Care

Commentary Albertans re-elected Danielle Smith’s United Conservative Party with a majority on May 29. Smith now offers a chance to change how we think about health care—a radically conservative vision. What might that include? Many conservatives trumpet out-of-pocket payments as the embodiment of conservative health-care policy. Danielle Smith’s critics inflamed fears of patient payment central…


Alberta’s UCP Releases Election Platform

On day two of the Alberta election campaign, the United Conservative Party (UCP) has released its full platform, which Premier Danielle Smith touted on social media as a path toward “lower prices for everything.” Released May 2, the platform includes pledges such as cutting personal income taxes, extending the holiday on provincial fuel taxes for the remainder…


Alberta Premier Danielle Smith Says Conservatives Must Apply Their Values to Delivery of Public Services

Alberta Premier Danielle Smith says that for Conservatives to win elections at the provincial and federal levels, they must develop a vision for “applying Conservative values to the delivery of public services.” “I have felt like Conservatives will say ‘vote for me, and I will cut your taxes, cut your regulation, cut your spending,’ and…


Danielle Smith Asks for Unity at UCP AGM a Day After Unveiling Cabinet

ENOCH CREE NATION, Alta.—Alberta Premier Danielle Smith emphasized caucus unity at the United Conservative Party’s (UCP) first annual general meeting on Oct. 22 following her leadership victory. In the ten days since she became premier, Smith said she’s been quiet as she works to unify the caucus ahead of a spring general election. “Our team…


UCP MLA Resigns, Encourages Smith to Run for Her Seat in the Alberta Legislature

Alberta’s new Premier-designate doesn’t have a seat in the Legislative Assembly, but at least one MLA has already offered Danielle Smith a seat. Among the seven candidates running to be leader of the United Conservative Party (UCP) and Alberta premier, Smith was the only one not currently a sitting MLA. She won the race on Thursday night…


UPDATED: Danielle Smith Will Run in Alberta Byelection After UCP MLA Resigns

EDMONTON—Danielle Smith, Alberta’s new premier-designate, could soon have a seat in the Legislative Assembly after one UCP MLA resigned and offered Smith her seat. Among the seven candidates running to be leader of the United Conservative Party (UCP) and Alberta premier, Smith was the only one not currently a sitting MLA. She won the race on Thursday…


Crisis Politics Are Stormy Politics: A Look at Jason Kenney’s Time as Alberta Premier

Commentary Jason Kenney’s time leading Alberta ends this week. The hope and promise he represented was expressed in the support for his United Conservative Party (UCP) government in 2019. The UCP was a considerable political achievement: against substantial odds, Kenney united bickering factions, whose fracturing ushered Rachel Notley’s socialist NDP to power. The freshly created…


Smith Won’t Seek Early Vote If She Wins UCP Leadership, Becomes Next Alberta Premier

United Conservative Party leadership candidate Danielle Smith says she would not call an early election to seek a broad mandate on her policy ideas if she wins this week’s vote and becomes Alberta’s next premier. Smith, the perceived front-runner in the race, said during a media availability Monday that voters tend to punish leaders who call an early…


List of Candidates Growing in Alberta UCP Leadership Race

The list of candidates to replace Jason Kenney as leader of Alberta’s United Conservative Party (UCP) continues to lengthen even though eligibility rules have not yet been finalized. Fort McMurray-Lac La Biche UCP MLA Brian Jean will launch his campaign on June 15 in Edmonton. Jean was the leader of the Opposition and the last leader of…