The UCP Leadership Election Committee rejected an exemption request from former Alberta Liberal Party leader Raj Sherman to run in the party’s leadership contest, sources told the Western Standard. .Sherman, who was also a Progressive Conservative MLA before he was kicked out of caucus, required the exemption because he was not a member of the UCP for six months prior to the contest, sources say. .The LEC rejected Raj’s request at a meeting on Thursday, two sources told the Western Standard..The sources are not being named because they were not authorized to speak about the matter publicly. One had knowledge of the meeting, and the second was on a call with MLAs and party executives discussing the request. .Raj, a doctor, said he declined a UCP membership while on the governance board of the College of Physicians and Surgeons because they dislike when board members are also members of political parties, one source said. The college even wrote a letter supporting Raj’s case. .But the argument lost credibility following the revelation Raj last year donated $4,000 to the Alberta Party, a centrist political party, the source told the Western Standard..“You can't be a member, but you're donating to a party?” the source said. “This is not adding up here.”.UCP MLAs had the opportunity to provide the LEC feedback ahead of its decision, as set out in the leadership contest rules..A source said not as many MLAs provided feedback as did for federal Conservative MP Michelle Rempel Garner, who also required an exemption because she has not been a UCP member for six months..The LEC granted Rempel Garner her exemption on Monday night, even after MLAs warned it sets a “dangerous precedent" in an hour-long phone call with party executives. .“Michelle was two-plus weeks out, where Raj … he hasn't been a Conservative member since he got kicked out of caucus in 2008,” a source said..UCP members will elect a new leader and premier on October 6.
