EDMONTON — Premier Danielle Smith issued a stern message to UCP members on Wednesday, telling them that individuals can have their own views on Alberta independence, but the party and government support a "strong Alberta within a united Canada." Smith told the UCP that, although party members can have differing views on Alberta independence, the leadership must be committed to the party's position. "Candidates running under our party banner need to be committed to, and support and abide by this position from the day they take out their nomination papers, throughout their candidacy, and for the duration of their time serving as MLAs in our caucus," said Smith in a social media video. The directive also applies to individuals serving on the UCP's provincial and constituency association boards, who are "expected" to uphold the position and focus on beating the Alberta NDP in Alberta's 2027 election. .Smith also said she suspects most UCP members will rally around the goal of securing another UCP government, but acknowledged that there are some who "would rather spend the next 12 months sowing division to circumvent the will of Albertans by trying to turn our party into something it is not; the United Conservative Party is not an independence party." "And for those few who cannot reconcile this fact and remain intent on dividing and turning our party into a vehicle for the independence movement, I would respectfully invite them to join a different party," Smith said. "I'm simply not prepared to watch a few individuals tear apart the incredible conservative movement we've built together, only to see the disastrous NDP become the government in our province."More to come...
