legally conservative provincial political party alberta canada party formed merger early alberta wild rose alberta provincial flower contested provincial election alliance banner able capture seven percent popular vote failed hold single seat support party rose sharply voters grew increasingly frustrated government resulting surprise win outgoing leader october election fall elected leader december leading provincial opinion polls ahead governing opposition liberals caucus grew members members defected january independent joined party june year election party failed breakthrough predicted media predicted government increase vote seat totals official opposition december including leader left party join caucus recently elected leader sought election general election lost seats losing nomination process riding losing general election challenger effective february party registered changed party history founding general election voted change registered january merged alberta officially changed alberta approved january parties similar policies key personnel previously involved hoped union allow new party present stronger anticipated election spring party sitting member remained leader merger 27th alberta general election attempted position conservative alternative governing party released platform promised fixed election dates increasing personal tax elimination health care creation alberta pension plan reworking controversial changes government oil gas royalty regime anticipated backlash governing failed premier extended party seat total alliance finished second province failed win seats lost riding votes running candidates province alliance took vote fourth liberals new democrats leadership election announced april intention step leader remained party leader interim capacity leadership convention provincial director calgary announced candidacy june convention party viewed leadership campaign optimism announcing membership growing rapidly grew increasingly frustrated government performance growing opposition government oil gas royalty program record billion deficit liberal spending facilitated growth party party began attract supporters high profile members provincial including premier father slogan send message rallying cry sought advantage public discontent ran september election riding surprised political observers capturing percent vote narrowly defeating liberal opponent win election gain seat legislature held riding fell place political observers argued result protest government firm support alliance gave party momentum prepared vote leader smith attempted capitalize party election win proclaiming wanted change lead victory general election party experienced considerable growth heading leadership election announcing members beginning october compared june smith elected new leader convention held october leadership election smith sought continue party growth focusing efforts fundraising search strong candidates growth evident polls shortly smith election return insight poll found alliance support percent respondents early november party improved percent according poll firmly second place points conservatives december topped leading percent support according poll conservatives fallen second place tie liberals percent party revealed time grown members amidst wave popularity smith announced january conservative crossed floor cabinet minister announced joined growing frustrated leadership accusing conservative government moved past new democrats largest party legislature joined june fourth took party threshold recognition official party assembly unveiled party annual conference attended people previous year late july controversy developed mayor smith future city centre airport smith argued vote closure airport added october civic elections ballot politicians opposed closure run provincial election looked like defeat landslide polling immediately election suggested gap narrowed somewhat end year tenure government general election took seats mainly support confined rural areas won seats calgary losing seats held dissolution completely shut nonetheless tallied percent popular vote healthy increase time stepped leader following numerous scandals polls began resurgence support won leadership called elections new cabinet included mayor seats legislature expected win seats retained elections seen test new leader result election losses smith asked party conduct leadership review november left caucus sit independent party turmoil making criticisms smith leadership team internally remaining members caucus unanimously pass resolution asking smith withdraw request leadership review smith agreed party annual general meeting november smith pledged resign leader party win government provincial election members voted resolution supporting equal rights minority groups regardless race religious belief sexual orientation differences vote reversed party policy supported smith adopted previous year shift party social resulting moderate party members november rocky mountain house quit caucus sit independent stating found expelled public criticisms smith advisers previously lost bid riding candidate provincial election november little bow crossed floor join ruling party caucus giving turmoil uncertainty smith leadership confidence reasons december smith confirmed members cross floor caucus smith saying premier strong leadership believe work lead alberta renewed focus values principles share action followed days rumours caucus meeting party agreed accept members terms officially disclosed leaves affiliated letter party executive smith asked party members vote resolution merge parties request party executive rejected development angered party members provoked widespread controversy stated time approached representative merger combination partnership alliance yesterday events confined opted cross floor consulting placed tie liberals second seats speaker ruled continue based prior precedent status comes additional funding privileges election elected leader march days later premier called provincial election resulted upset victory returning majority government despite lack caucus having organize election campaign heels leadership election able rally win seats seats dissolution legislature won allowing party remain collapsed lost seats dissolution returning finding power time coming popular vote fell vote campus following jump official opposition status undergraduate students founded campus branch party youth wing november abbreviated youth branch enjoy official status party constitution worked unofficial capacity passing party policy hosting debates engaging campus communities alberta campus currently branch campus club current president branch run elected board consisting president vice president vice president vice president events vice president membership vice president operations finance policy identity election reform focus party proposes set fixed election dates current format allows premier election time allow free votes legislature seek elect province senators appointed prime minister party plans introduce bill giving voters right recall proposes numerous changes province delivers health care claims remain controls government spending smith critical international climate change treaties believing climate change science remains inconclusive smith stated controversial social issues play party election platform polling indicated party retained support quarter electorate party attempted define protest party party capable forming government july support fallen percent support risen percent march polling support showing significant improvement credible challenger wake mass floor crossing new leader stated candidate sign contract need pay fine intend cross floor party leaders eleanor interim smith heather interim brian jean present current caucus fort rocky view drew barnes medicine hat cooper olds hills scott cold lake brooks dave paul hills grant hunter prairie don lake rocky mountain house ron election dave little bow valley devon battle river fort wood buffalo electoral results
Wildrose Party