Like many of you, Scott Sinclair and I have been watching Alberta politics with growing frustration and a sense of disconnection. The party that once spoke to our values: principled conservatism, fiscal discipline, fairness, and respect for institutions has lost its way. That’s why, through Elections Alberta, we’ve taken the step to begin reviving the Progressive Conservative Association of Alberta.
This isn’t just about a name or a brand. It’s about creating a space again for Albertans who feel politically abandoned. People who still believe in responsible leadership, but can’t stomach the direction the United Conservative Party has taken. And trust us, we’re not alone. More and more Albertans are telling us the same thing.
Since stepping away from the UCP, we’ve had thousands of conversations with people across the province, small business owners, farmers, tradespeople, healthcare workers, parents. They work hard, care deeply about Alberta, and want good governance. But what they see instead is a government tangled in internal power games, loyalty tests, and performative partisanship.
This is not what leadership should look like.
Albertans aren’t asking for miracles. They want the basics done right: a government that’s transparent, that spends wisely, and that works for the public good, not for insiders. They want strong public services, equal access to healthcare and education, and a justice system that’s fair and dependable.
Instead, under Danielle Smith and the current UCP leadership, we’ve seen the opposite: rising spending with little to show for it, ballooning bureaucracy, and a growing sense that decisions are made for political theatre, not real-world results. While preaching fiscal responsibility, the UCP has increased spending by 23% and expanded the public service by 14% in just three years.
Worse yet, it’s centralizing control and playing fast and loose with institutions that are supposed to safeguard Alberta’s future like the Heritage Trust Fund. All while scapegoating others when things go wrong.
Our departure from the UCP wasn’t part of some political strategy, it was a stand for principle. We raised concerns, we asked questions, and we were met with silence or resistance. In today’s UCP, challenging the status quo isn’t welcome. Loyalty is prized more than honesty, and criticism no matter how constructive, is treated like betrayal.
That’s not conservatism. That’s control.
The UCP’s push for ideological purity and embrace of fringe issues like the separatist undertones of the Alberta NEXT tour are dangerous. They hurt Alberta’s reputation, scare off investment, and divide communities that should be working together.
This isn’t leadership. It’s a reckless gamble with our province’s future.
Let’s be clear: the UCP is no longer united, and it’s no longer conservative in any meaningful sense. It has abandoned the core values that once defined it, values that many of us still hold dear.
That’s why we’re working to rebuild the Progressive Conservative movement in Alberta. Not to return to the past, but to offer a real alternative rooted in stability, common sense, and genuine public service. We believe Alberta needs a movement that champions balanced budgets and strong services, not one at the expense of the other. One that modernizes government, embraces innovation, and leads with compassion and accountability.
This isn’t about left or right. It’s about restoring trust, competence in Alberta’s government.
If you feel politically homeless, if you’ve tuned out because politics seems broken, this is your invitation to tune back in. There’s a new movement taking shape. One that puts people before partisanship. One that remembers what conservative values are really about.
If that sounds like the kind of Alberta you want to live in, we hope you’ll join us.
