Candidates who choose to be the next leader of the United Conservative Party will have to pay $ 175,000 to have a chance to run.
The party on Tuesday announced its rules and procedures for its leadership contest to replace Prime Minister Jason Kenney.
Kenney announced his intention to resign last month after a leadership review in which he garnered a 51.4% approval rating. He will remain as party leader and prime minister until a replacement is elected.
A new leader will be elected on October 6, following a postal vote. Party members will also be able to vote in person at one of the five polling stations to be established across the province.
The deadline for applications is July 20.
Eight people have already submitted their names for the contest, but the party said no one will be an official candidate until they meet a number of criteria, such as:
- Paying a $ 150,000 ticket.
- Paying a $ 25,000 refundable compliance deposit.
- Fill in a complete candidate questionnaire.
- Collecting at least 1,000 signatures, with 200 from each of the party’s five provincial regions.
The rules also state that all leadership contestants must participate in all debates organized by the PCU or possibly face a fine or disqualification.
During the 2017 leadership contest, the UCP required candidates to pay an entry fee of $ 75,000 and a compliance deposit of $ 20,000.
On Tuesday, party executives defended the highest price for the candidates this time.
“We are in government,” said David Price, chairman of the UCP’s leadership election committee. “We are selecting not only the next party leader, but the next prime minister of the province.”
Price said the $ 150,000 registration fee was calculated to cover the cost of the race.
Alberta election rules prevent the party from benefiting from candidate quotas, but the party tried to consider the costs of a vote it may need to accommodate a number of new party members in the coming months. .
“We have done our best to reach the right number and it is also a number that will ensure that we get good and credible candidates who show breadth and depth in terms of their campaign teams and in terms of fundraising,” he said. . dit.
The last hopeful of leadership, former child services minister Rebecca Schulz, began her campaign on Tuesday.
Schulz, the Calgary-Shaw MP, said she is confident the party and committee will think hard about the rules, adding that fundraising is an important part of being able to show that a candidate can get support.
“I was always committed to participating in this race no matter what the rules are, and so I will work within those parameters,” Schulz said.
Calgary North East MP Rajan Sawhney, who resigned as transport minister to start his own leadership campaign on Monday, also issued a statement saying he was grateful for the release of the rules and was pleased to see that the campaign begins.
In a statement, Fort McMurray-Lac La Biche MP Brian Jean said he was happy the rules were finally available, but said he wished they were more favorable for a “wide open” race.
Others who presented his name were clearer about their concerns.
Central Peace-Notley MP Todd Loewen said he was concerned that the entry fee would make the party look elitist. He said it’s a missed opportunity to connect with grassroots fans.
“I think we could have a substantially lower turnout at the beginning and that would allow more people to participate and give the impression that we’re really listening to the guy,” Loewen said Tuesday.
Chestermere-Strathmore MP Leela Aheer said she accepted the requirement to provide party access to the candidate’s social media accounts. she will not respect it
He said he has many messages from voters and others who sent him with the expectation of confidentiality and added that he has no intention of complying.
“I would ask that all the candidates for leadership please support me in this because it is imperative that we protect our constituents,” he said.
According to the rules document issued by the party, an application must include “the information necessary to provide the profile holder with access to all of the applicant’s social media accounts.”
UCP spokesman Dave Prisco explained that the application is a download of account activity for verification purposes, which he said is also requested during local nomination races. He said the party does not ask for account passwords.
The next provincial elections are scheduled for May 29, 2023.
Cabinet remodeling
With the departure of Schulz’s cabinet and former Transport Minister Rajan Sawhney, who announced his campaign on Monday, Kenney has announced interim replacements.
Prasad Panda has been appointed acting Minister of Transport and Jason Luan will be acting Minister of Child Services, Kenney said in a statement on Tuesday.