Wildrose Party of Alberta

Infobox_Canada_Political_Party
party_name = Wildrose Party of Alberta
status = defunct
class = prov
leader = TBA
party_
president = Rob James
foundation = 2007
dissolution = 2008
ideology = Conservatism, Populism, Classical Liberalism
headquarters = Suite 203, 10441 - 178 Street Edmonton, Alberta T5S 1R5
int_alignment = none
colours = Pink & Green
seats_house = 0
website = [http://wildroseparty.ca http://wildroseparty.ca]

The Wildrose Party of Alberta was a right wing political party founded in Alberta, Canada in 2007. The party took its name from Alberta's provincial flower.

On January 19, 2008, the party merged with the Alberta Alliance Party to form into the Wildrose Alliance Party of Alberta. The party never contested an election as no general election or by-elections were held during the party's brief existence.

Objectives and philosophy

According to a media advisory issued by the party on June 26 2007, its main emphasis was to be:
*"Reducing by constitutional means the enormous net outflow of wealth from Albertans to the federal government"
*"Ensuring that provincial decisions better reflect the mainstream values and priorities of most Albertans"
*"Ensuring that the party's Leader and MLAs honour their election promises and commitments"

According to Don Weisbeck, Mayor of Brooks and Vice President (Communications) for the party, “the provincial government has swayed from its conservative roots. They’ve become one of the fastest spending and highest taxing jurisdictions in the country compared to their original roots where they tried to minimize taxes and government involvement in people’s lives". ["Brooks Bulletin", June 28]

The party constitution emphasized the control of the grass-roots.

History

The party was launched on June 23 2007 at a meeting of 76 Albertans in Red Deer. According to the party, "the initiative began with an earlier Red Deer meeting (May 26) where fifty people from diverse political backgrounds mostly agreed that existing political parties can't or won't challenge the federal system and restrain provincial spending. The initiative was bolstered by two recent by-elections in which support for conservative parties plunged overall, while liberal support did not increase." The poor performance of the Alberta Alliance in the June by-elections reinforced the view that the Alberta Alliance would not be able to effectively challenge the government of Premier Ed Stelmach. Prominent former Alberta Alliance members who have joined the Wildrose Party include Eleanor Maroes.

The party collect more than 6004 Alberta signatures in order to gain party status.

Interim Executive Committee

*Rob James, President (Calgary, former southern Alberta campaign chair for the Progressive Conservative party)
*Daniel Johnson, Vice-President Membership (Edmonton)
*Gordon Lang, Vice-President Fundraising (Calgary)

*John Hilton-O'Brien, Vice-President Policy(Calgary)
*Link Byfield, Vice-President Communications (Riviere Qui Barre)
*Eleanor Maroes, Treasurer (Edmonton)
*Rosemary Craig, Secretary (Calgary)

Southern Directors:
*Ryan Wall, Calgary Zone (Calgary)
*Shyla Nickerson, Southwest Zone (Didsbury)
*Don Ebenal, Southeast Zone (Red Deer)

Northern Directors:
*Phil Gamache, Edmonton Zone (Edmonton)
*Dean Schmale, Northeast Zone (Winfield)
*Todd Brown, Northwest Zone (Thorsby)

ee also

* Politics of Alberta
* Registered Alberta political parties

ources and external links

* [http://wildroseparty.ca Party website]
* [http://www.cbc.ca/canada/edmonton/story/2007/06/26/wild-rose-party.html CBC News, June 26: Wild Rose Party takes off]
* [http://www.brooksbulletin.com/news/local_news.asp?itemid=63747 Brooks Bulletin, June 28: New Party launched in Alberta]

Alberta politics

References