A 12-member committee has been struck to oversee rules for the selection of the United Conservative Party’s (UCP) next leader..Also, to “secure the integrity” of the voting process, cash payments for memberships will not be accepted after 5 p.m. on June 1. Only credit card, money order, or cheque payments will be allowed..Labour lawyer David Price, with Stikeman Elliot LLP, will head the Leadership Election Committee (LEC), the UCP announced in a press release late Friday..The committee will establish procedures such as entry requirements, the timeline of the contest, and how members will vote. A returning officer will be appointed..Premier Jason Kenney said on May 18 that he will step down and not run in the leadership contest after receiving 51.4% support after a lengthy contentious UCP leadership review..Kenney then said he will stay on until a new leader is chosen..The LEC “will build on existing rules” including the “requirement for a preferential ballot and a one-member, one-vote system,” read the press release..“We’ve secured an outstanding group of Party volunteers who bring diverse perspectives to the table from all corners of the province,” said UCP President Cynthia Moore.. “A leadership race is a time of renewal and we’re excited to showcase the strength of our team and get on with the race.”.Meanwhile, investigations by Elections Alberta and the RCMP appear to be dogging the UCP..Elections Alberta was asked to look into complaints about 4,000-5,000 bulk membership purchases using six to eight credits cards leading up to Kenney’s leadership review vote..Concerns about questionable membership “surges” were expressed before that. .The status is unknown of the RCMP investigation into alleged voter fraud in the 2017 UCP leadership race..Meanwhile, speculation is rampant about possible leadership candidates, some of whom have not ruled out entering the race..To date only former MLA Danielle Smith and Fort McMurray-Lac La Biche MLA Brian Jean have said they’ll run. Both are former Wildrose Party leaders..Other LEC members include Constituency Association Presidents Casey Deschamp, Larry Spagnolo, Tim Heger and Ron Young; former MPs Devinder Shory and Rick Casson; former Whitecourt Maryann Chichak; and former UCP president Ryan Becker. .UCP board members Moore, Maxwell DeGroat and Joe Friesenhan will serve in a non-voting capacity.
A 12-member committee has been struck to oversee rules for the selection of the United Conservative Party’s (UCP) next leader..Also, to “secure the integrity” of the voting process, cash payments for memberships will not be accepted after 5 p.m. on June 1. Only credit card, money order, or cheque payments will be allowed..Labour lawyer David Price, with Stikeman Elliot LLP, will head the Leadership Election Committee (LEC), the UCP announced in a press release late Friday..The committee will establish procedures such as entry requirements, the timeline of the contest, and how members will vote. A returning officer will be appointed..Premier Jason Kenney said on May 18 that he will step down and not run in the leadership contest after receiving 51.4% support after a lengthy contentious UCP leadership review..Kenney then said he will stay on until a new leader is chosen..The LEC “will build on existing rules” including the “requirement for a preferential ballot and a one-member, one-vote system,” read the press release..“We’ve secured an outstanding group of Party volunteers who bring diverse perspectives to the table from all corners of the province,” said UCP President Cynthia Moore.. “A leadership race is a time of renewal and we’re excited to showcase the strength of our team and get on with the race.”.Meanwhile, investigations by Elections Alberta and the RCMP appear to be dogging the UCP..Elections Alberta was asked to look into complaints about 4,000-5,000 bulk membership purchases using six to eight credits cards leading up to Kenney’s leadership review vote..Concerns about questionable membership “surges” were expressed before that. .The status is unknown of the RCMP investigation into alleged voter fraud in the 2017 UCP leadership race..Meanwhile, speculation is rampant about possible leadership candidates, some of whom have not ruled out entering the race..To date only former MLA Danielle Smith and Fort McMurray-Lac La Biche MLA Brian Jean have said they’ll run. Both are former Wildrose Party leaders..Other LEC members include Constituency Association Presidents Casey Deschamp, Larry Spagnolo, Tim Heger and Ron Young; former MPs Devinder Shory and Rick Casson; former Whitecourt Maryann Chichak; and former UCP president Ryan Becker. .UCP board members Moore, Maxwell DeGroat and Joe Friesenhan will serve in a non-voting capacity.