Examine individual changes

'{{For|the historical political party in Chile|United Conservative Party (Chile)}} {{Infobox political party | name = United Conservative Party | logo = United Conservative Party Logo (Alberta).svg | logo_size = 251px | colorcode = {{Canadian party colour|AB|UCP}} | leader = [[Jason Kenney]] | president = | chairman = Ed Ammar | general_secretary = | first_secretary = | secretary_general = | presidium = | secretary = | spokesperson = | foundation = July 22, 2017 | ideology = [[Conservatism in Canada|Conservatism]]<br />[[Social conservatism in Canada|Social conservatism]]<br />[[Right-wing populism]]<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/jason-kenney-channels-populism-but-not-donald-trump-in-alberta/article33453019/|title= Jason Kenney channels populism — but not Donald Trump — in Alberta|work=The Globe and Mail|access-date=February 25, 2018}}</ref> | headquarters = 4317 23B Street NE<br />[[Calgary]], [[Alberta]]<br />T2E 7V9 | website = {{URL|https://unitedconservative.ca/}} | country = Canada | leader1_title = Deputy Leader | leader1_name = [[Leela Aheer]]<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.metronews.ca/news/edmonton/2017/10/30/jason-kenney-announces-new-leadership-team-will-not-include-brian-jean.html|title=Jason Kenney announces new leadership team, will not include Brian Jean|work=Metro News|access-date=2017-10-30|language=en}}</ref> | _subheader = Active&nbsp;provincial&nbsp;party | merger = {{nowrap|[[Progressive Conservative Association of Alberta|Progressive Conservatives]]}},<br/>[[Wildrose Party|Wildrose]] | position = [[Right-wing]] | seats1_title = Seats in the House of Commons | seats1 = | seats2_title = Seats in the Senate | seats2 = | seats3_title = Seats in [[Legislative Assembly of Alberta|Legislature]] | seats3 = {{Composition bar|25|87|hex={{Canadian party colour|AB|UCP}}}} | state = Alberta | parties_dab1 = List of political parties in Alberta | elections_dab1 = List of Alberta general elections | footnotes = }} The '''United Conservative Party''' (UCP) is a [[right-of-centre]] political party in the province of [[Alberta]], [[Canada]]. It was established in July 2017 as a merger between the [[Progressive Conservative Association of Alberta]] and the [[Wildrose Party]]. The UCP currently forms the [[Official Opposition (Canada)|Official Opposition]] in the [[Legislative Assembly of Alberta]]. == History == The Wildrose Party largely consisted of former PC supporters dissatisfied with the longstanding PC government for various reasons. Three of the first five Wildrose MLAs were defecters originally elected as Progressive Conservatives. A notable but unsuccessful attempt to collapse the Wildrose into the PC party occurred in [[Wildrose Party#Danielle Smith leadership|November and December 2014]] when two Wildrose MLAs joined the PCs. Weeks later, the then Wildrose Party and Official Opposition leader [[Danielle Smith]] led most of the rest of her caucus to cross the floor and join the then governing PC Party lead by [[Jim Prentice]]. The remaining Wildrose Party refused to consider the request by Smith to dissolve their party. Then Wildrose President David Yager said at the time "This is not a merger in any way. It is capitulation."<ref>{{cite web|last1=Henton|first1=Darcy|title=Mass defection expected as Wildrose MLAs to join PCs|url=http://calgaryherald.com/news/politics/wildrose-party-president-vows-to-fight-backroom-deal-merger|publisher=Calgary Herald}}</ref> Many columnists blamed the mass 2014 floor crossings for the [[Alberta general election, 2015|surprise election of the NDP in May 2015]] as they defeated the longest serving provincial government in Canada.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Gunter|first1=Lorne|title=NDP lineup full of radicals|url=http://www.edmontonsun.com/2015/05/06/lorne-gunter-ndp-lineup-full-of-radicals|publisher=Calgary Sun}}</ref> Following the May 2015 election, uniting the Wildrose and PC parties became a major issue. In July 2016 [[Jason Kenney]] announced that he would seek the PC leadership on a platform of uniting into a new party with the Wildrose. Wildrose leader [[Brian Jean]] largely rejected calls for a merger with the PCs, and on October 28, 2016, told Wildrose members at the party's AGM "In the months ahead, let's not put the future of our province at risk waiting for the PC party to figure out what they do or don't believe in."<ref>{{cite news|last1=Bellefontaine|first1=Michelle|title=Wildrose leader rejects PC merger in speech to party faithful|url=http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/edmonton/wildrose-leader-rejects-pc-merger-in-speech-to-party-faithful-1.3827339|publisher=CBC}}</ref> On December 15, 2015, Jean continued to reject proposals for a merger and stated that he would present an alternative plan, "It has to be something palatable to both sets of members", said Jean. "And I think that our plan is, quite frankly, much more palatable to both sets of members."<ref>{{cite web|last1=Woods|first1=James|title=Wildrose rift: Party appears split over merger with PCs|url=http://calgaryherald.com/news/politics/wildrose-mla-fildebrandt-calls-for-party-merger-with-pcs|publisher=Calgary Herald}}</ref> On the same day, [[Derek Fildebrandt]] came out as the first Wildrose MLA to openly support a merger with the PC Party after the NDP’s election when he told a radio station, "Frankly, I've heard enough. I think that people are pretty clear. They want a single conservative option to face against the NDP in the next election."<ref>{{cite news|title=Wildrose divided: Fildebrandt breaks with leader, calls for merger with PCs|url=http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/edmonton/wildrose-divided-fildebrandt-breaks-with-leader-calls-for-merger-with-pcs-1.3898810|publisher=CBC Calgary}}</ref> Negotiations by PC Party leader Jason Kenney and Wildrose leader Brian Jean began shortly after Kenney was [[Progressive Conservative Association of Alberta leadership election, 2017|elected PC leader on March 18, 2017]] on a platform of uniting the two parties. Negotiations were successful and the text of the merger agreement was released on May 18, 2017. Internal votes on the merger agreement were held by both parties on July 22, 2017.<ref name="timeline">{{cite news|title=Conservative unity vote: A timeline|url=http://edmontonjournal.com/news/politics/conservative-unity-vote-a-timeline|accessdate=July 22, 2017|work=Edmonton Journal|date=July 22, 2017}}</ref><ref name="cbc">{{cite news|url=http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/edmonton/alberta-wildrose-pc-conservatives-merger-1.4121473|title=Alberta's Wildrose, PCs agree to create new United Conservative Party|publisher=CBC News|date=May 18, 2017|accessdate=May 19, 2017}}</ref> The stated plan if the merger was approved was a [[United Conservative Party leadership election, 2017|United Conservative Party leadership election]] in October 2017 and a founding convention of the party in early 2018.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://edmontonjournal.com/news/politics/alberta-conservative-unity-one-step-closer|title=Wildrose-PC members to vote on new united party July 22|work=Edmonton Journal|date=May 18, 2017|accessdate=May 19, 2017}}</ref> 42,617 Wildrose members were eligible to vote on July 22, 2017. There was a 57 per cent turnout with 23,466 voters (95%) in favour of the agreement and 1,132 (5%) against, clearing the 75% threshold required by the party's constitution. The Progressive Conservative membership also approved the agreement by a margin of 95% to 5%. With a turnout of 55% of eligible members, 25,692 PC members voted yes and 1,344 voted no, with 24 spoiled ballots; the PC party's constitution required a [[First-past-the-post voting|simple majority]] of its membership to approve the merger.<ref name=mergevote>{{cite news|title=Wildrose votes yes to unity with 95% of the vote|url=http://calgaryherald.com/news/politics/wildrose-party-members-votes-95-5-per-cent-in-favour-of-joining-united-conservative-party|accessdate=July 22, 2017|work=Calgary Herald|date=July 22, 2017}}</ref><ref name="cbcmerge">{{cite news|last1=Bellefontaine|first1=Michelle|title=Wildrose and PC members approve unite-the-right deal with 95% voting 'yes'|url=http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/edmonton/wildrose-unity-pcs-vote-1.4217598|accessdate=July 23, 2017|publisher=CBC News|date=July 22, 2017}}</ref> Despite the overwhelming vote for a merger, some Wildrosers declined to join the united party with a group of [[constituency association]] presidents meeting later in July to discuss forming a new party. Similarly, at least 10 directors of the PC Party resigned since Jason Kenney became leader, with some former Tories working to build a centrist alternative to both the United Conservatives and the NDP before the [[Alberta general election, 2019|next provincial election]].<ref name=mergevote/> The second-place PC leadership candidate and MLA for [[Vermilion-Lloydminster]], [[Richard Starke]], announced on July 24 that he would not join the UCP, and will sit in the legislature as an Independent PC MLA.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/edmonton/united-conservative-party-alberta-monday-1.4219080|title=Richard Starke, former PC leadership candidate, won't join new United Conservative Party|work=CBC News|access-date=2017-07-24|language=en}}</ref> A joint meeting of the PC and Wildrose caucuses was held on July 24, 2017, to elect [[Nathan Cooper (Canadian politician)|Nathan Cooper]], Wildrose MLA for [[Olds-Didsbury-Three Hills]], as [[interim leader]]—and hence Leader of the Opposition--<ref name="cooper">{{cite news|title=Nathan Cooper chosen as interim leader of United Conservative Party|url=http://www.cbc.ca/1.4219080|publisher=CBC News|date=July 24, 2017}}</ref> over [[Prasad Panda]], Wildrose MLA for [[Calgary-Foothills]], and [[Richard Gotfried]], PC MLA for [[Calgary-Fish Creek]].<ref name="next">{{cite news|last1=Graney|first1=Emma|title=United Conservative Party: The next steps|url=http://edmontonjournal.com/news/politics/united-conservative-party-the-next-steps|accessdate=July 23, 2017|date=July 22, 2017}}</ref> As well, members of both caucuses approached the [[Speaker of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta]] and ask to be recognized as the United Conservative caucus.<ref name=cbcmerge/> Kenney and Jean selected six individuals each to sit on the interim executive board of the new party. Ed Ammar was elected as first chair of the party on July 24, 2017. The interim UCP leader also appointed two MLAs to the board as non-voting members. The new party was registered with [[Elections Alberta]] as of July 31, 2017.<ref name=next/> [[Calgary-South East]] MLA [[Rick Fraser (politician)|Rick Fraser]] left the caucus on September 21, 2017, to sit as an Independent due to his dissatisfaction with the party's leadership contest and the emphasis put by candidates on spending cuts and austerity.<ref>{{cite web|author=James Wood |url=http://calgaryherald.com/news/politics/southeast-calgary-mla-rick-fraser-leaves-ucp-caucus-to-sit-as-independent |title=Rick Fraser, southeast Calgary MLA, leaves United Conservative caucus |publisher=Calgary Herald |date=2017-09-21 |accessdate=2018-02-08}}</ref> ==Party under Kenney== The [[United Conservative Party leadership election, 2017|leadership election]] held on October 28, 2017 resulted in [[Jason Kenney]] defeating former Wildrose leader Brian Jean and Doug Schweitzer, a former aide to [[Jim Prentice]], to become UCP leader. Kenney won more than 60% of the vote on the first ballot.<ref name=ken>{{cite web|author=James Wood |url=http://calgaryherald.com/news/politics/ex-mla-donna-kennedy-glans-enters-pc-leadership-race |title=Donna Kennedy-Glans joins PC leadership race |publisher=Calgary Herald |date=2016-09-08 |accessdate=2018-02-08}}</ref> Kenney successfully contested a by-election in [[Calgary-Lougheed]] on December 14, 2017, after incumbent MLA [[Dave Rodney]] resigned in order to give Kenney an opportunity to enter the Alberta legislature.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calgary/jason-kenney-gets-to-work-new-leader-upc-1.4377594 |title=Calgary MLA steps down to allow Jason Kenney to run for legislature seat |publisher=CBC News |date=2017-10-29 |accessdate=2018-02-08}}</ref> == Policy and identity == The UCP will hold its founding convention to set its official policies in May 2018.<ref>{{cite web|author=James Wood |url=http://calgaryherald.com/news/politics/kenney-takes-charge-of-ucp |title=Jason Kenney takes charge of UCP, seeks seat in legislature by Christmas |publisher=Calgary Herald |date=2017-10-29 |accessdate=2018-02-08}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/edmonton/united-conservative-party-next-steps-1.4217922|title=Alberta's new United Conservative Party is a go. What happens next?|work=CBC News|access-date=2017-07-26|language=en}}</ref> == Controversy == The UCP drew criticism over Kenney's proposal to allow schools to notify parents when their children joined Gay–Straight Alliance clubs.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/edmonton/ucp-oppose-gsa-bill-ban-parental-notification-1.4391317|title=UCP opposes GSA bill banning parental notification|work=CBC News|date=November 7, 2017|access-date=February 26, 2018}}</ref> In response, the Notley government drafted and passed Bill 24, which forbade teachers from outing children who were members of the GSAs. The matter once again caused controversy after the UCP Policy Convention in May 2018, when members of the party voted to adopt the policy of having schools inform parents when their children have joined a GSA<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/edmonton/ucp-gay-straight-alliance-motion-1.4650727|title=UCP members ignore MLA pleas to vote against gay-straight alliance motion|date=May 6, 2018}}</ref>. UCP MLAs [[Ric McIver]], [[Jason Nixon]], and [[Leela Aheer]] all opposed the policy, and despite urging members to vote against adopting the policy, it was passed with 57% of the vote. In December 2017, UCP house leader [[Jason Nixon]] came under scrutiny after it was revealed the B.C Human Rights tribunal in 2008 found he had wrongly fired a woman who reported sexual harassment.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2017/12/12/alberta-mla-jason-nixon-fired-employee-who-reported-sexual-harassment_a_23305378/|title=Alberta MLA Jason Nixon Fired Employee Who Reported Sexual Harassment|work=Huffington Post Canada|access-date=February 25, 2018}}</ref> Premier [[Rachel Notley]] called on [[Jason Kenney]] to remove Nixon from his position as a result of the controversy.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/edmonton/jason-nixon-fired-woman-for-sex-harassment-complaint-1.4444897|title=UCP house leader Jason Nixon fired woman after sex harassment complaint|work=CBC News|access-date=February 25, 2018}}</ref> Nixon has stated he regrets his decision and he is committed to fighting sexual harassment. ==Leadership== {{See also|United Conservative Party leadership election, 2017}} {| class="wikitable" |- |+ List of Leaders |- ! scope="col" | No. ! scope="col" | Leader ! scope="col" | Term |- |Interim |[[Nathan Cooper (Canadian politician)|Nathan Cooper]] |July 24, 2017 – October 28, 2017 |- | scope ="row" | 1 |[[Jason Kenney]] |October 28, 2017 – present |} {| class="wikitable" |- |+ List of Deputy Leaders |- ! scope="col" | No. ! scope="col" | Deputy Leader ! scope="col" | Term |- | scope ="row" | 1 |[[Mike Ellis (Canadian politician)|Mike Ellis]] |July 25, 2017 – October 30, 2017 |- | scope ="row" | 2 |[[Leela Aheer]] |October 30, 2017 – present |} == Caucus == {{See also|29th Alberta Legislature}} {|class=wikitable |+ United Conservative Party Caucus as of March 5, 2018 ! scope ="col" | MLA ! scope ="col" | Constituency ! scope ="col" colspan="2" | Former affiliation ! scope ="col" | Elected ! scope ="col" | Notes |- |[[Jason Kenney]] |[[Calgary-Lougheed]] |{{Canadian party colour|AB|PC|background}}| |[[Progressive Conservative Association of Alberta|Progressive Conservative]]<ref group=note>Kenney was the leader of the Progressive Conservative Association of Alberta at the time of the merger with the Wildrose Party. However, he was only elected to the Legislative Assembly in a by-election after the merger took effect and never sat as a PC MLA.</ref> |2017 |Leader (2017–present)<br>Leader of the Opposition (2018–present) |- |[[Nathan Cooper (Canadian politician)|Nathan Cooper]] |[[Olds-Didsbury-Three Hills]] |{{Canadian party colour|AB|Wildrose|background}}| |[[Wildrose Party|Wildrose]] |2015 |Interim Leader (2017)<br>Acting Leader of the Opposition (2017) |- |[[Mike Ellis (Canadian politician)|Mike Ellis]] |[[Calgary-West]] |{{Canadian party colour|AB|PC|background}}| |[[Progressive Conservative Association of Alberta|Progressive Conservative]] |2014 |Deputy Leader (2017) |- |[[Richard Gotfried]] |[[Calgary-Fish Creek]] |{{Canadian party colour|AB|PC|background}}| |[[Progressive Conservative Association of Alberta|Progressive Conservative]] |2015 |House Leader (2017) |- |[[Jason Nixon]] |[[Rimbey-Rocky Mountain House-Sundre]] |{{Canadian party colour|AB|Wildrose|background}}| |[[Wildrose Party|Wildrose]] |2015 |House Leader (2017–present)<br />Acting Leader of the Opposition (2017–2018)<br />Caucus Whip (2017) |- |[[Prasad Panda]] |[[Calgary-Foothills]] |{{Canadian party colour|AB|Wildrose|background}}| |[[Wildrose Party|Wildrose]] |2015 |Caucus Whip (2017) |- |[[Leela Aheer]] |[[Chestermere-Rocky View]] |{{Canadian party colour|AB|Wildrose|background}}| |[[Wildrose Party|Wildrose]] |2015 |Deputy Leader (2017–present) |- |[[Wayne Anderson (politician)|Wayne Anderson]] |[[Highwood (electoral district)|Highwood]] |{{Canadian party colour|AB|Wildrose|background}}| |[[Wildrose Party|Wildrose]] |2015 | |- |[[Drew Barnes]] |[[Cypress-Medicine Hat]] |{{Canadian party colour|AB|Wildrose|background}}| |[[Wildrose Party|Wildrose]] |2012 | |- |[[Scott Cyr]] |[[Bonnyville-Cold Lake]] |{{Canadian party colour|AB|Wildrose|background}}| |[[Wildrose Party|Wildrose]] |2015 | |- |[[Wayne Drysdale]] |[[Grande Prairie-Wapiti]] |{{Canadian party colour|AB|PC|background}}| |[[Progressive Conservative Association of Alberta|Progressive Conservative]] |2008 |Served in cabinet under [[Jim Prentice]]. |- |[[Prab Gill]] |[[Calgary-Greenway]] |{{Canadian party colour|AB|PC|background}}| |[[Progressive Conservative Association of Alberta|Progressive Conservative]] |2016 |Deputy Caucus Whip (2017–present) |- |[[Dave Hanson (politician)|Dave Hanson]] |[[Lac La Biche-St. Paul-Two Hills]] |{{Canadian party colour|AB|Wildrose|background}}| |[[Wildrose Party|Wildrose]] |2015 | |- |[[Grant Hunter]] |[[Cardston-Taber-Warner]] |{{Canadian party colour|AB|Wildrose|background}}| |[[Wildrose Party|Wildrose]] |2015 | |- |[[Todd Loewen]] |[[Grande Prairie-Smoky]] |{{Canadian party colour|AB|Wildrose|background}}| |[[Wildrose Party|Wildrose]] |2015 | |- |[[Ric McIver]] |[[Calgary-Hays]] |{{Canadian party colour|AB|PC|background}}| |[[Progressive Conservative Association of Alberta|Progressive Conservative]] |2012 |Caucus Whip (2017–present)<br />Interim Progressive Conservative Leader (2015–2016)<br />Served in cabinet under [[Alison Redford]] and [[Jim Prentice]]. |- |[[Ron Orr]] |[[Lacombe-Ponoka]] |{{Canadian party colour|AB|Wildrose|background}}| |[[Wildrose Party|Wildrose]] |2015 | |- |[[Angela Pitt]] |[[Airdrie (electoral district)|Airdrie]] |{{Canadian party colour|AB|Wildrose|background}}| |[[Wildrose Party|Wildrose]] |2015 |Deputy House Leader (2017–present) |- |[[Dave Schneider]] |[[Little Bow (electoral district)|Little Bow]] |{{Canadian party colour|AB|Wildrose|background}}| |[[Wildrose Party|Wildrose]] |2015 | |- |[[Mark Smith (Canadian politician)|Mark Smith]] |[[Drayton Valley-Devon]] |{{Canadian party colour|AB|Wildrose|background}}| |[[Wildrose Party|Wildrose]] |2015 | |- |[[Pat Stier]] |[[Livingstone-Macleod]] |{{Canadian party colour|AB|Wildrose|background}}| |[[Wildrose Party|Wildrose]] |2012 | |- |[[Rick Strankman]] |[[Drumheller-Stettler]] |{{Canadian party colour|AB|Wildrose|background}}| |[[Wildrose Party|Wildrose]] |2012 | |- |[[Wes Taylor (politician)|Wes Taylor]] |[[Battle River-Wainwright]] |{{Canadian party colour|AB|Wildrose|background}}| |[[Wildrose Party|Wildrose]] |2015 | |- |[[Glenn van Dijken]] |[[Barrhead-Morinville-Westlock]] |{{Canadian party colour|AB|Wildrose|background}}| |[[Wildrose Party|Wildrose]] |2015 | |- |[[Tany Yao]] |[[Fort McMurray-Wood Buffalo]] |{{Canadian party colour|AB|Wildrose|background}}| |[[Wildrose Party|Wildrose]] |2015 | |} ==Notes== {{reflist|group=note}} ==References== {{Reflist|30em}} ==External links== *[https://www.unitedconservative.ca/Content/UnityAgreementInPrinciple.pdf Unity Agreement in Principle] -founding document {{Alberta provincial political parties}} {{Alberta politics}} {{Canadian Conservative Parties}} {{Wildrose Party}} {{PC Alberta}} [[Category:2017 establishments in Alberta]] [[Category:Conservative parties in Canada]] [[Category:Organizations based in Calgary]] [[Category:Provincial political parties in Alberta]] [[Category:Progressive Conservative Association of Alberta]] [[Category:Wildrose Party]] [[Category:Right-wing populism in Canada]] [[Category:Political parties established in 2017]]'