By Geoff Smith (@smithco on Twitter)

Former PC MLA pleased with party merger

Jul 24, 2017 | 12:01 PM

LETHBRIDGE – A former Progressive Conservative MLA from Lethbridge says it’s unfortunate the storied name will disappear from Alberta politics.

But Greg Weadick did vote in favour of the new United Conservative Party.

“We have a wonderful legacy with people like Peter Lougheed and Ralph Klein over the years,” Weadick said in an interview. “But the world is changing, and we’re moving on, and this new conservative movement in Alberta is, I believe, where the future will be.”

“I believe that we need to reflect that centre of the spectrum, which will be very similar to what the old Progressive Conservative values were.”

 

– Greg Weadick

Weadick served two terms in the Legislature representing Lethbridge-West, and was a cabinet minister in the government of Ed Stelmach. He said bringing together like-minded people led to success for the federal Conservative party, and can do the same in Alberta.

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He added the UCP will have to occupy the centre of the policital spectrum.

“Most Albertans that I talk to are fiscally conservative,” he explained. “They support free enterprise but they’re also very socially conscious, and they want to make sure that all Albertans have an opportunity, that people don’t fall through the cracks.

“I believe that we need to reflect that centre of the spectrum, which will be very similar to what the old Progressive Conservative values were.”

One sitting MLA, former PC leadership candidate Richard Starke, said he won’t join the UCP. Former MLA Dave Quest announced he is cutting up his party card. But Weadick doesn’t expect that there will be enough disgruntled members to start a new party.

Weadick hadn’t given any though to who should lead the party. But he thinks that given the high level of support for the merger, there’s an opportunity for some new candidates to come forward.

“I actually would be probably surprised of it was either of the outgoing leaders, although I think that they’re both great guys, good politicians. But you know, we’ve got a new party. We might just end up with a new leader as well.”