Alison Redford cuts ties with Alberta's PC party

Former premier Alison Redford says she is no longer a part of Alberta's Progressive Conservative Party, which she led during her time in office. 

Redford resigned as premier after serving about two and half years and left politics altogether about a year ago.

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"I'm not part of any political party right now," Redford told CBC News.

Redford stepped down as premier after several spending scandals and low polling numbers, as well as pressure from her caucus and party brass to resign. 

She says her caucus had deeply held views about the path the party should take forward and "apparently they weren't the same views as mine — that's life."

Over the last year, the former premier has met face to face with some of the people in her party whom she was fighting against in the last few months of her leadership.

She's gone through a process of trying to understand everything that happened and what motivations everyone had. She says she doesn't hold any ill will against the party.

"I've sat down directly with them and I've said that there were things that they were involved in that were hurtful. But at the end of the day, I have to be at peace with myself and I need them to know that."

Redford says she doesn't have an opinion on the future of the PC party or whether or not it should merge with the Wildrose in a movement to unite the two right wing parties.

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The former premier says she has no intentions of returning to politics, although she has plans to work in public policy.

Redford's take on 5 changes in Alberta politics

1) Danielle Smith crossing the floor to the PCs?

I laughed, I just laughed. I don't understand what makes people tick sometimes. Every politician is motivated by something different.

2) Jim Prentice resigning his seat after his party lost in the spring election?

I think it was a very surprising step. People go into politics for different reasons, people leave politics for different reasons.

3) Rachel Notley being elected premier?

I thought it was very interesting that twice when Albertans have gone to general elections, they have elected women as premiers. I think that is maybe lost on some people. But I think that's pretty exciting.

4) The collapse of the PC party?

When I was running to be leader of the PC party, and then the election when I was elected premier, we talked about change. I think Albertans wanted to see change and I think they decided after watching the last three or four years in Alberta, that the best way to get change was to change governing parties. I can certainly understand that.

5) Whether she feels responsible for the PC party's result in the spring election?

No.