New PC leadership rules angers former Alberta cabinet minister

A former Alberta cabinet minister isn'thappy with newrules put in place by the PC party forits upcoming leadership contest.

One ruleforbids candidates from doing anything that could harm the Tory brand, which could affect the leadership ambitions ofJason Kenney, who's running on a platform to merge the PCs with the WildroseParty.

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"I'm not sure what that means. I mean, what does that mean?" asked former PC cabinet minister Rick Orman.

LikeKenney, Orman is in favour of uniting Alberta's conservative parties.

"If there are issues, they will come up during the campaign, and people will cast their vote based upon whether or not they feel that candidate is quote, 'damaging the brand,' unquote," said Orman.

New board rules

Sandra Jansen,MLA for Calgary North West, says the rules could spell trouble forKenney.

"If his goal is to collapse the PC party, then it would appear that he doesn't fit the criteria for running for leader," Jansen said Monday.

But she added she'll leave it to the PC party executive to deal with the question when the leadership race formally begins Oct. 1.

"That's not my call to make. I respect the board's autonomy in making decisions about who can and cannot run and we'll leave it to them," said Jansen.

The board voted to include a clause from the 2014 campaign that said candidates must "avoid causing harm or disrepute to the (Progressive Conservative Association of Alberta) and its brand through any detrimental action or conduct."

Jansensaid she is happy with the rules. She pointed out that 50 directors from across the province, not a select few, hashed it out.

"I'm pleased with what they came up with. That is grassroots democracy in action."

Each of the 87 constituency associations will vote to send 15 delegates to the March 18 convention in Calgary. Of those 15, five will be from the local constituency association boards and 10 from members at large.

Interim PC leader RicMcIver, who is also weighing a leadership run, said he voted against the delegate breakdown. He would rather see all 15 delegates come from members at large.

"One of the things that we've promised ever since the last election is that we were going to be a party that was open and available to allAlbertans," saidMcIver.

'Hypothetical question'

PC party executive directorTroy Wasonwon't say whether Kenney's merger plan would violate the rule.

"That's a hypothetical question. Until we have actual candidates, I won't speculate on what would or wouldn't be detrimental," he said.

The PC party has also decided that candidates must disclose all spending and donations received in the pre-writ period, from June 30 to October 1st, when the raceofficially begins.

Kenney, who is still a sitting MP,has been raising money in the pre-campaign periodthrough a third-party organization known as Unite Alberta.

Kenneyhas yet to respond to the leadership race rules.

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