A newly-formed organization is asking members of various political parties in Alberta, to join forces and help lead the province in a different direction heading into the 2019 provincial election, through one of two ways.
 
By forming a new party or by strengthening a current one, with a goal of swaying the votes of the centrist population.
 
The Alberta Together committee, led by Executive Director and former President of the PC party Katherine O’Neill, came together Saturday at the Black Knight Inn in Red Deer, with over 300 attendees including representatives from the PC, Wildrose and Alberta Party. 
 
Although O’Neill agrees with both ideas, she said building on the Alberta Party may be the best option for right now.
 
“I think that’s one of the main options people are looking at right now because there’s less than two years to go until the next election. Time is of the essence and if people are looking for a real political option in the middle, it’s one that’s ready to go and is looking for members.”
 
O’Neill admits two years is a short period of time to compete with the likes of a potential United Party and the NDP, but said she looks to similar situations elsewhere.
 
“You just have to look to France and (President Emmanuel) Macron. That party (En Marche!) was formed less than 14 months ago. If you have the right leadership, the right candidates and the right vision, you can do anything.”
 
“What’s exciting about this is room is how positive it is. I think people have come to roll up their sleeves and get to work and that’s the start of any political movement.”
 
As for Greg Clark, leader of the Alberta Party, there’s no question he would like to play a major role in the new direction.
 
“What I see today is a group of people who want to work together to build a better province and I hope work together under the banner of the Alberta Party.”
 
With that being said, Clark is unsure what’s next, but is ready to listen at this point and said he would love to add more leadership to his party.
 
“I don’t know what this is for us yet. This is an Alberta Together meeting, the Alberta Party is here just as a participant as a group of individuals who happen to be members of a political party. Without question, the Alberta Party is inviting people to join our party, to work inside the frame of the party to create constituency associations to run as candidates.”
 
O’Neill said for the first, of many more meetings this summer, the support was stronger than she imagined and is excited to continue touring the province.
 
She is one of eight members of the PC Party who gave up their positions once Jason Kenney was elected leader.