Brian Jean to move forward with $100K floor-crossing clause

The new leader of the Wildrose Party is proposing a $100,000 fee for future floor-crossers.

Fort McMurray’s Brian Jean, 52, captured the party leadership this weekend with about 55 per cent of the votes.

• Brian Jean says Danielle Smith made a decision he would never make
• $100,000 penalty suggested to stop Wildrose floor crossing

Now, he’s making good on his campaign promise to protect the party’s future, pledging that all candidates will sign a contract agreeing to pay $100,000 should they choose to join another party.

In December, nine Wildrose MLAs — including former leader Danielle Smith — crossed the floor to join the Progressive Conservative party.

“People are elected based on what party they represent, among other things … and people do not want to be disappointed in their candidates taking a position that’s otherwise,” he said Monday morning.

“I think it’s something most people do as a result of personal ambition and I think we’ve seen what personal ambition can lead to,” Jean  said. “We had almost a complete and utter clean-up of all of the betrayers going into the next election and we’ll see how the general population reacts.”

Jean, a lawyer and former Conservative Member of Parliament, said the strategy is “100 per cent legal.”

The fee will not be charged if a member chooses to sit as an independent, however, he added.

“There’s no prohibition for them to be independent and vote however they want — that’s their prerogative and that’s something between them and their constituents.”

Jean will make a public appearance in Fort McMurray Monday afternoon at 1 p.m.

• On mobile? Hear the full interview here