Category: UCP

Alberta Election: What UCP and NDP Are Promising

The writ will drop for the Alberta election on May 1, and voters will head to the polls on May 29. But the two top rival parties, the governing United Conservative Party (UCP) led by Danielle Smith and the former governing Alberta NDP led by Rachel Notley, have already been in campaign mode for months. Here’s…


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…


Michael Taube: Smith’s New Political Adventure Has Just Begun

On Oct. 6, Danielle Smith defeated Travis Toews on the sixth ballot to win the United Conservative Party leadership. She’ll be sworn in as Alberta’s 19th Premier on Oct. 11. It’s an exciting moment for Smith, a longtime friend and colleague. Once the pomp and circumstance concludes, she knows that the hard work begins. Smith…


Cory Morgan: Smith Has Many Challenges Ahead of Her, but She Continues to Surprise

Commentary  It took over 10 years, a term as the leader of Alberta’s official opposition, a politically disastrous floor-crossing, and a long time in the political wilderness, but Danielle Smith has finally achieved her goal of becoming Alberta’s premier. Smith’s work is far from done and she still has a tough and bumpy road ahead…


Danielle Smith Chosen as Alberta’s Next Premier After UCP Members Elect Her as Party Leader

United Conservative Party (UCP) members have chosen Danielle Smith as their next leader, making her the next premier of Alberta. The former leader of the Wildrose Party, who had stepped away from politics for several years, won the contest on the the sixth ballot against UCP MLA and former finance minister Travis Toews. On the first…


UCP Leadership Candidates Respond to Questions on Pandemic Policy, Autonomy for Alberta

RED DEER, Alberta—The issue of restrictive pandemic policies under Alberta’s United Conservative Party (UCP) government and the fallout from them was raised during a UCP leadership candidates’ panel at a conservative conference in Red Deer on Sept. 24. Leadership candidate Leela Aheer, a sitting UCP MLA and former minister, was asked by co-host Lindsay Wilson…


Voting Deadline Looms in Race to Replace Jason Kenney as Alberta UCP Leader, Premier

It’s deadline day to buy $10 Alberta United Conservative Party memberships to vote for the next leader and premier. The party is accepting drop offs by 5 p.m. and online memberships until midnight. The party will then go through the memberships and confirm information and expects to have the final tally ready in two weeks…


Rona Ambrose to Chair Rebecca Schulz’s UCP Leadership Campaign

A candidate vying to lead Alberta’s United Conservatives has brought on a high-profile former federal politician as campaign chair. Rebecca Schulz posted a video to Twitter on Friday showing her speaking with Rona Ambrose, the former Conservative Opposition leader, cabinet minister and Alberta member of Parliament. “I have a ton of respect for her, a…


Rempel Garner Bows out of Running for Alberta UCP Leadership, Citing Caucus Divisions

Conservative MP Michelle Rempel Garner says she will not run for leadership of Alberta’s United Conservative Party. She announced her decision today in a lengthy social media post. In it, the longtime MP from Calgary says as she was doing the final preparation to launch her campaign on Wednesday, she realized she had concerns about…


Brown Campaign Manager Joins Michelle Rempel Garner for Possible UCP Leadership Bid

Patrick Brown’s campaign manager has left to help Michelle Rempel Garner with her possible bid for the United Conservative Party leadership in Alberta. Brown’s federal leadership campaign says Sean Schnell has stepped away to follow Rempel Garner, who announced last week she was leaving her role as Brown’s national co-chair. Rempel Garner is mulling a…