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.
