Anders — who has characterized himself as a true conservative beset by “Red Tories” — said his vocal support for the Wildrose party, along with his past jousting with Premier Alison Redford, has made him a target for provincial Progressive Conservatives.
Facing a nomination challenge in the Calgary Signal Hill riding from former provincial finance minister Ron Liepert, Anders said recently that jockeying between the PCs and Wildrose will “be an element” in the fight.
“I don’t doubt for a second that some of the progressives don’t like the fact Wildrose has come along and is now the official Opposition, and is challenging them on the right of centre and articulating a more fiscally conservative vision,” he said in an interview.
“It is, if you will, somewhat similar to the battle the Reform party waged with regard to the (federal) Progressive Conservatives.”
The fallout from a nasty provincial civil war on the right is an issue most Wildrose and PC officials downplay. They insist the split won’t spill over into the coming battles for federal Conservative nominations in Alberta, which in most cases are a near guarantee of winning a seat in the House of Commons.
But observers like Lethbridge College political scientist Faron Ellis, who has spent years studying Canada’s conservative movement, say the provincial rivalry is “a big deal” as nominations heat up ahead of two federal byelections in Alberta and a general election next year.
Candidates need to sign up large blocs of voters as party members, and one of the best ways to do that is through provincial affiliation, Ellis said.
“On the ground in the constituencies, people know each other,” he said Friday.
“Those people that are active in provincial politics with either of those parties, they’re the most likely to turn out to vote, the most likely to sell memberships . . . and people know which side you’re on and who you’ve been active with.”
Numerous candidates with provincial connections are wading into the federal scene.
Len Webber, the PC MLA for Calgary-Foothills, entered the race in the new federal riding of Calgary Confederation this week with a plea to leave divisions such as “Wildrose versus PC” behind because “we have enough of that here in Calgary.”
In the federal riding of Macleod, which will hold a byelection later this year because of a resignation, a PC nominee in the last provincial election — John Barlow — is one of at least five candidates running to carry the Conservative banner.
Barlow said in an interview that his provincial PC ties may be a factor in the race, but he’s hoping to “bridge the gap” between supporters of both parties.
Another Conservative candidate in Macleod, Scott Wagner, is a board member on Wildrose’s Banff-Cochrane riding association. Wagner said he also wants to put aside the provincial split in his campaign — but noted it may be an issue for voters.
“I’ve knocked on close to 2,000 doors now and it is very polarized out there,” he said.
“I don’t ever remember a period in my life where people were so passionate about one side or the other . . . there is a lot of passion right now, Wildrose against PCs.”
Wildrose Leader Danielle Smith, who defeated Barlow in Highwood in the provincial election, said she and her 16 MLAs are staying neutral in the numerous federal nomination races.
But in a recent interview, she slammed Liepert for his record in the PC cabinet.
“That’s part of the reason why he’s going to face a difficult challenge from genuine conservatives, not because of a Wildrose or PC dynamic, but because I think he did a terrible job as a minister,” she said.
Anders has been embroiled in controversy many times during his 17 years in office, notably describing Nelson Mandela as a terrorist and Communist while the Calgarian became the only MP to vote against honorary citizenship for the South African leader.
Such cases have prompted previous attempts to oust him. In 2004, Liepert managed the unsuccessful campaign of Redford as she challenged Anders for the Calgary West nomination.
Smith said she isn’t concerned about Anders, a longtime friend, identifying himself as a Wildrose supporter.
“I think the issues that (Anders) campaigns on are federal issues,” she said. “The issues you choose somebody for federally are quite different than the issues you choose someone for provincially — and I think that’s what each of the candidates are going to be judged on.”
For his part, Liepert said provincial politics won’t be a factor in Calgary Signal Hill and he’s drawing support from Wildrose backers. (Former federal riding association president Dan Morrison is also running against Anders in the race.)
The premier’s office declined to comment on the role of provincial politics in the federal arena, but an official in Redford’s office, speaking on condition of anonymity, said she has given no direction to MLAs on how to act in the Conservative races.
But PC president Jim McCormick said the provincial party won’t be taking sides in any of the federal fights.
“We’re certainly not taking any active role, I can assure you of that,” McCormick said.
Original Article
Source: calgaryherald.com/
Author: JAMES WOOD
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