Get 'er done: Jason Kenney primes party for unity vote
'For unity, this is probably do or die on July 22,' Alberta Progressive Conservative leader says
Alberta Progressive Conservative Leader Jason Kenney primed supporters in Edmonton Wednesday for a vote that could unite the province's political right in two weeks.
He pushed the proposed merger between the PC and Wildrose parties to a crowd of hundreds.
"Together we will renew the Alberta advantage and re-ignite the flame of this province as a sign of hope and opportunity for people around the world and for generations to come," he told supporters.
"We will once again, as in the words of our province's motto, be an Alberta strong and free, so let's get 'er done."
A joined party, which would be called the United Conservative Party, is the only way to topple Premier Rachel Notley's NDP in the next provincial election, Kenney said.
The proposed merger needs 75 per cent approval from Wildrose members and just over 50 per cent from Progressive Conservatives.
Some of Kenney's supporters are buying Wildrose memberships so they can vote twice in favour of uniting the two right-wing parties.
"There's no rule against it," Kenney told reporters after Wednesday's rally. "If they're comfortable to do so, they're welcome to."
If the merger fails by a significant margin, Kenney said he will accept the decision and continue as leader of the Progressive Conservative party.
"There's no easy Plan B, there's no automatic fall-back position, there's no guarantee that we could negotiate a different agreement," he added.
"People should know that for unity, this is probably do or die on July 22."
If the proposed merger goes ahead, members of the new party will elect a new leader in October.