RED DEER, AB: The Manning Centre’s annual Alberta conference saw several prominent conservatives discussing the future of the West and wrestling with the question of independence..The organization’s namesake, Preston Manning, took to the stage in Red Deer alongside former PC Finance Minister Ted Morton, former Wildrose Leader and PC MLA Danielle Smith, writer Diane Francis, and Conservative operative Ken Whyte..Manning himself surprised some in the room by saying that independence needs to be on the table..“A referendum on secession needs to be part of the strategy, but not the whole strategy,” Manning told the crowd during the mornings first panel discussion..Manning made the case that Alberta and Saskatchewan need to define “what is a fair deal for the West” within confederation and put it forward to Ottawa, but added that if it fails an independence referendum needs to be a part of the plan..Former Alberta finance minister and PC leadership contender Ted Morton was less optimistic that any fair deal will be won for the West within confederation.. Preston Manning .“Despite the efforts of Preston Manning, the Reform Party, and Stephen Harper, we’ve lost ground.”.The former finance minister and PC leadership contender made the case that while he backs the federal and provincial Tories, continuing with status quo federalism is a losing game..“If he [Kenney] goes too fast, he losses moderates. But if he goes too slow, he risks Wexit and other groups rising up,” continued Morton..Conservative political operative Ken Whyte argued that Westerners should drop any notion of independence or even fire-walling off provincial jurisdictions, and instead focus on returning the federal Tories to power..“A referendum on opting out is dumb.”.The room of mostly conservative activists reserved most of its applause for calls for an independence vote..Ontario writer Diane Francis argued that her part of the country simply won’t give the West a fair shake, and that Alberta and Saskatchewan should make hard demands fast, backed by an independence vote.
RED DEER, AB: The Manning Centre’s annual Alberta conference saw several prominent conservatives discussing the future of the West and wrestling with the question of independence..The organization’s namesake, Preston Manning, took to the stage in Red Deer alongside former PC Finance Minister Ted Morton, former Wildrose Leader and PC MLA Danielle Smith, writer Diane Francis, and Conservative operative Ken Whyte..Manning himself surprised some in the room by saying that independence needs to be on the table..“A referendum on secession needs to be part of the strategy, but not the whole strategy,” Manning told the crowd during the mornings first panel discussion..Manning made the case that Alberta and Saskatchewan need to define “what is a fair deal for the West” within confederation and put it forward to Ottawa, but added that if it fails an independence referendum needs to be a part of the plan..Former Alberta finance minister and PC leadership contender Ted Morton was less optimistic that any fair deal will be won for the West within confederation.. Preston Manning .“Despite the efforts of Preston Manning, the Reform Party, and Stephen Harper, we’ve lost ground.”.The former finance minister and PC leadership contender made the case that while he backs the federal and provincial Tories, continuing with status quo federalism is a losing game..“If he [Kenney] goes too fast, he losses moderates. But if he goes too slow, he risks Wexit and other groups rising up,” continued Morton..Conservative political operative Ken Whyte argued that Westerners should drop any notion of independence or even fire-walling off provincial jurisdictions, and instead focus on returning the federal Tories to power..“A referendum on opting out is dumb.”.The room of mostly conservative activists reserved most of its applause for calls for an independence vote..Ontario writer Diane Francis argued that her part of the country simply won’t give the West a fair shake, and that Alberta and Saskatchewan should make hard demands fast, backed by an independence vote.
