Alberta MLA booted from UCP caucus over threat to vote against budget

Alberta's governing United Conservatives have booted a rural backbencher from caucus following his public opposition to the government's proposed budget.

Chief government whip Shane Getson says UCP members of the legislature voted to remove Lesser Slave Lake MLA Scott Sinclair because he intends to vote against the spending document.

Under parliamentary convention, the budget vote is a confidence vote, meaning that if it fails in the legislature, it's expected the government will trigger an election.

Sinclair has criticized the budget's projected multibillion-dollar deficits and its allocation of money for big cities while rural constituencies like his need roads fixed and better health care.

Murray Kerik, reeve for the Municipal District of Lesser Slave River, wrote a letter to Premier Danielle Smith on behalf of council, which he says echoes Sinclair's sentiments that the budget's distribution of funds disproportionately favours major urban centre, and neglects rural infrastructure. 

"This budget signals a disturbing trend. While urban centres receive substantial investments in recreation, transportation and schools, our municipality is left to contend with roads that are in desperate need of repair, and bridges teetering on the verge of failure." Kerik wrote.

Kerik says he is disappointed by the removal of Sinclair from the UCP caucus. 

"What kind of a lesson is this to upcoming MLAs?" he told CBC News in an interview. "The mere fact that you have a man that's actually trying to do some good and he gets penalized for it. I'm hoping they do something to fix this."

Christina Gray, who leads the Official NDP Opposition in the House, said removing Sinclair from the UCP caucus is evidence of a lack of effective leadership.

"Sinclair confirmed what we already know: the UCP's 2025 budget fails Albertans. Albertans need a real, judicial-led public inquiry into how the UCP conducts business," wrote Gray in a statement. 

Sinclair was the second UCP MLA to push back against Premier Danielle Smith in the span of a week.

Airdrie-Cochrane MLA Peter Guthrie quit cabinet over his concerns with government-wide contracting processes.