Alberta Premier Danielle Smith made her pitch to continue as leader of the governing United Conservative Party, suggesting to thousands of its members that the party must stay united to accomplish its goals.
Smith delivered her speech during the party’s annual general meeting in Red Deer, Alta, where more than 6,000 UCP members are expected to vote in a party-mandated leadership review Saturday. Members are voting on whether Smith should remain party leader.
“We are on the right path,” Smith told a packed Westerner Centre. “And we’ve only just begun.
“So let us remain united as a party and as a movement — but let us not sink to the level of our opponents by attacking and vilifying one another, or breaking into factions.”
Unity, she said, will help fend off challenges from federal and provincial parties on the other side of the political spectrum.
“Our opponents — whether that be in the NDP in Alberta, or the Liberals in Ottawa — have no chance to defeat us when we as a party are strong, unified and boldly governing our province,” she said.
Experts say the party’s overall support of Smith likely isn’t in doubt and, on Friday, she received a standing ovation from a crowd of at least 4,000 when she took the stage for a question-and-answer period.
Smith’s cabinet, and many party members in attendance, have donned buttons and T-shirts that call for her support in the vote.
Smith’s speech Saturday morning was punctuated by resounding applause from the crowd. However, two groups have mounted campaigns to vote against her.
The 1905 Committee and Take Back Alberta believe Smith hasn’t gone far enough in her campaign promises from the 2023 election. They say she hasn’t done enough to seek accountability for vaccine mandates and COVID-related business closures during the pandemic.
The question remains about what level of support will quell opposition factions within the UCP.
Former Progressive Conservative premiers Ed Stelmach and Alison Redford won 77 per cent support in their reviews, but were soon pushed out of their leadership positions.
Former UCP premier Jason Kenney received 51 per cent support in the May 2022 review and resigned as a result.
Smith received 54 per cent on the sixth ballot to win the leadership in 2022. She told reporters she hopes to get more than that on Saturday.
“You can’t get 100 per cent of support of 100 per cent of members, 100 per cent of the time,” Smith said.
“I just hope that I’ve managed to gain ground on the last time they had a chance to offer their opinion.”
In her speech Saturday morning, Smith said she thought conservatism across the country has momentum on its side, and committed to keeping that momentum going.
“Our Alberta values of fiscal conservatism, free markets, individual freedom and personal responsibility are working and winning with the public more and more every single day,” she said. “That, dear friends, is why it is more important than ever for our UCP government and our party to double and triple down on acting and governing like conservatives.”
“My commitment to each of you today is to do exactly that.”
Party members in attendance were able to cast their ballots as early as 8 a.m. MT Saturday. The party plans to release the leadership vote results at 5:30 p.m.