Kenney lost because he refused to embrace the wilder wing of his party. Smith has taken up their agenda
A new legislature session always opens with pompous fuss, but this week it’s not Alberta’s biggest political event.
That’s the UCP convention coming on the weekend in Red Deer.
Exactly 5,761 people have bought tickets, making this possibly the biggest political party meeting in Alberta’s history.
There isn’t so much as a broom closet available for rent in Red Deer — I know, having offered to rent one. Helpful hotel agents suggested rooms in Sylvan Lake or Leduc.
The party says 4,000 people will fit into the main hall at Westerner Park. An overflow room will welcome another 3,000 UCP sardines.
Ticket prices vary according to early or late purchase, and whether or not members care for a meal. But a rough guess would be an average of $175 per ticket.
That means about $1 million in revenue. The party says this huge haul will go to convention expenses. (Have they hired Taylor Swift?)
Megabucks aside, it’s doubtful that another party in Canada — provincial or federal — could draw such a giant crowd and so much cash for a mid-term meeting of any kind.
The massive interest from conservatives is due in large part to questions about whether Premier Danielle Smith will survive a leadership confidence vote.
At this point, the issue seems to be more a revenue-raiser than a real threat.
This history of these votes — especially the ejection of ex-premier Jason Kenney in 2022 — has terrified the premier’s group into governing solely for the minority of UCP members who might want to fire her, too.
Smith has schmoozed, promoted, announced — and will now legislate — to the pleasure of perhaps five per cent of Albertans.
This has worked. Smith doesn’t seem to be in significant trouble.
Kenney lost because he refused to embrace the wilder wing of his party. Smith has taken up their agenda.
And so, the buzz around this vote is much less angry.
There’s no David Parker attacking a party president who was merely doing her job.
No riding associations have formed groups to oppose the premier. In 2022, more than 20 lined up against Kenney.
MLAs who hotly opposed the former premier — notably Todd Loewen and Peter Guthrie — are senior ministers of the crown.
Kenney’s harshest critics are board members who now run the party itself.
The strongest argument for getting rid of Smith, in fact, would come from conservative moderates. They complain constantly, but rarely in public.
NDP leader Naheed Nenshi sat in the visitor’s gallery and was introduced by his designated legislature leader, Christina Gray.
Nenshi is not an MLA and shows no sign of triggering a byelection to become one. Smith seemed to enjoy calling Gray “the leader of the official opposition.”
Nenshi’s absence meant little when the house wasn’t in session. But it could be damaging now. Even with an MLA’s resignation to clear a riding for him, he couldn’t possibly be in the legislature until next spring.
Worse for him, Smith can stall a byelection because she sets the date. The power she used to her own advantage could be turned against another.
The AMA has been told many times there is an agreement, it’s coming soon, just a few details, etc.
Now it is officially on hold. This is harsh.
Smith has two undisputed talents — fundraising, and political survival. Both will be on vivid display this weekend.
Don Braid’s column appears regularly in the Calgary Herald.