Recently elected Fort McMurray-Lac La Biche MLA Brian Jean wants the United Conservative Party (UCP) to appoint an independent auditor to oversee elements of the party’s upcoming leadership review..Jean raised “fairness concerns” about the membership purchase and registration process leading up to the vote deciding Premier Jason Kenney’s political fate at an April 9 special general meeting (SGM) in Red Deer..He also cited several other demands to ensure members of the “validity” of the result..Jean won 63.7% of the vote in the March 15 byelection on a campaign platform to “renew” the UCP, oust, and hopefully replace, Kenney as leader..“As I am sure you can imagine, I have a particular interest in seeing that the UCP’s upcoming Special General Meeting is conducted to the highest standards of integrity,” said Jean in a press release issued late Friday..“I have complete confidence in the returning officer but my concerns are with things outside of the returning officer’s control. I hope the party’s SGM committee and the Party Board will immediately clarify some items and increase member confidence in the validity of the result. Appointing an independent auditor would assure members that the party is living up to its own rules.”.The deadline to register to vote at the SGM is March 19 at 11:59 p.m..Jean asked for assurances that the deadline would be firm..He called for: “Steps to ensure that the eligible UCP member list is truly and completely closed as of March 19th and that there is no post-deadline padding of the list as has happened in certain riding AGMS, such as Chestermere-Strathmore where an arbitration case is currently underway.”.He insisted the voting location and voting dates in Red Deer remain unchanged..“Members and potential members have made choices based on the information in the notice of meeting. Making substantial changes now would be unacceptable,” said Jean..The Cambridge Hotel in Red Deer, where the SGM is scheduled to be held, has the capacity to hold 2,000 people..More than 10,000 UCP supporters signed up to cast a ballot, and that number is expected to increase by the deadline..Other demands Jean made include:.Steps to ensure that no one has a back door onto the registration list and can input registrations without members knowing they have been registered.Steps to ensure people without credit cards or internet access can register with personal cheques and paper registration forms.And, staffing up at party headquarters to help the hundreds of members who are calling and emailing the office, but can’t get their questions answered..Ballots at the SGM will be counted by volunteers with constituency association (CA) presidents acting as scrutineers..Three annual general meetings — in Chestermere-Strathmore, Sherwood Park, and Rimbey-Rocky Mountain House- Sundre — were mired in controversy when the majority of incumbent board members were ousted and replaced with Kenney supporters..Jean’s call for assurances about SGM procedures comes as the RCMP have yet to release the results of an investigation into the actions of members of Kenney’s staff prior to a UCP AGM in Calgary last November..This followed a complaint by Independent Central Peace-Notley MLA Todd Loewen..On Match 8 Loewen told the Western Standard he was aware the RCMP is investigating irregularities pertaining to the UCP leadership vote in 2017, but believed a second investigation was warranted “as the two matters do not appear to be directly related.”.Jean ran unsuccessfully against Kenney in a 2017 bid to lead the UCP..But he handily defeated Wildrose Independence Party of Alberta’s leader Paul Hinman and NDP candidate Ariana Mancini in the recent byelection. It was called because former MLA Laila Goodridge resigned to successfully run as the federal Conservative Party candidate for Fort McMurray-Cold Lake..In a recent letter to UCP Returning Officer Steve McLeod, Jean acknowledged the returning officer has “limited authority.”.“I wish to raise with you a series of concerns. Some deal with matters under your control and I am sure that you will reassure me.”.“But some of the concerns are outside your control and I hope to secure your assistance in calling on the party’s SGM committee and the Party Board to undertake certain activities and to make certain public assurances that will increase member confidence in the validity of the result.”.Twenty-two constituency associations voted to force Kenney to face the early leadership vote..Jean, who served as a former member of parliament, will be sworn in at the Alberta Legislature April 5..Slobodian is the Senior Manitoba Columnist for the Western Standard.,.lslobodian@westernstandardonline.com
