The United Conservative Party is set to form, after both the Wildrose and Progressive Conservative parties voted in referendums to merge into a single right-of-centre party they hope will end vote splitting and unseat the NDP government in the 2019 election.

Both party memberships voted more than 95 per cent in favour of the unity agreement.

In his speech delivered from Calgary, PC Party leader Jason Kenney spoke to those who voted against it, who have concerns about the direction of the party and what it will stand for.

“We need you. We want you in the United Conservative Party. The best way to express those concerns is through that active involvement,” Kenney said. “We respect your conscientious view … this has never been a narrow ideological enterprise.”

Results of the Wildrose referendum were announced at the Radisson Hotel in Red Deer earlier this evening.

“Today is not the end of Wildrose, but a new beginning, where we are one step closer to putting power back into the hands of the ordinary people of Alberta and restoring conservative principles to our great province,” said Wildrose Party leader Brian Jean in his speech.

The Wildrose Party required a 75 per cent ‘Yes’ vote.

Jean said he plans to run for leadership of the UCP. The unity framework between the two parties states a permanent leader would be elected on Oct. 28.

“I plan on being Alberta’s next Premier,” he said.

“We will rip up the carbon tax and that’s going to be a lot of fun,” Jean continued. “Alberta is not apologizing for our industries and our way of life.”

The official vote totals for the Wildrose are as follows:

  • 24,598 votes cast
  • 57.7 per cent turnout
  • 23,466 voted ‘Yes’
  • 1,132 voted ‘No’
  • Yes – 95.4 per cent
  • No – 4.6 per cent

The official vote totals for the Progressive Conservatives:

  • 27,060 votes cast
  • 55 per cent turnout
  • 25,692 voted ‘Yes’
  • 1,344 voted ‘No’
  • 24 spoiled ballots