A new political party for Alberta?
It’s just one possibility for the opposition to try and rebuild after a near fatal blow in the last election.
Yesterday we had Liberal MLA Dr. David Swann on our station after he sent a peculiar e-mail. The e-mail focused on rejuvenating the opposition and getting citizens once again interested in provincial politics. This part was pretty straight forward but it was the last paragraph that raised my eyebrow and had experts asking questions.
Basically it read like this: “After 37 years of one-party rule, the writing is on the wall. Alternate parties must change or become more marginalized. And if existing parties are not able to find common cause or make the necessary changes, then a more inclusive democratic party of the centre must emerge which will inspire and engage citizens in the grand experiment that is Alberta. Let’s get to work.”
I’m not sure about you but my first impression from that comment was that Dr. Swann is trying to plant the seeds for a new party and start a recruitment drive.
Normally announcing that you are interested in starting a new party, while you’re currently with one, would get you kicked out of your caucus. But the environment critic chose his words very carefully, so if he was grilled on this issue he has many “outs”, so he’s not entrapped by his words. That and the Liberals can’t afford to lose an MLA.
The other possibility to take from Dr. Swann’s words is that he wants co-operation, a coalition, or even a merger of opposition parties.
Either way the Liberal MLA is looking for an end to 37 years of Tory rule. But will either scenario help the opposition (any of the parties) topple the PC’s from their perch at the top of the pyramid that is Alberta.
On this question I spoke with Keith Brownsey, a political scientist with Mount Royal College. He believes everything for Swann will fail if he keeps pursuing these options. A merger or coalition with the NDP or Green Party is unlikely and if it does happen the core groups of both parties will feel alienated and betrayed. Let’s also face the fact that a deal with the NDP will further brand the Liberals as socialists…even though the current branding of Liberals as socialists is ignorant. The party falls into the centre of the political spectrum, not the far left like some spin doctors would like you to believe.
Also Brownsey says a new party doesn’t have enough support and historically these situations have been losing causes for the person trying to break away and make history. He doesn’t think its smart for Swann to try and be a crusader with a new party because he could be shooting himself in the political foot.
So do you think a new party is the answer for the dismay voters felt in the last election about a lack of choice? Or will it be an issue for parties on the other side of the house by spreading the opposition voice thinner?
Let me know what you think.