The Wildrose Independence Party of Alberta (WIPA) is holding their annual general meeting Saturday and the battle for the leadership role of the party is heating up..The former leader, Paul Hinman, is hoping party members will reinstate him. However, Board President Rick Northey says there will be no vote on Hinman’s leadership..Hinman wasn't invited to attend..Hinman was elected as the WIPA leader in July 2020. During this time he ran and lost to Brian Jean Fort McMurray-Lac La Biche byelection. Jean is now in the race for the UCP leadership..According to a True North report, a review of Hinman's failed bid to win a seat in the Alberta legislature determined he was in a “conflict of interest” when he transferred campaign funds to pay himself..According to a report submitted to WIPA’s board of governors from Provincial Nomination Committee Chair Gurcharan Garcha on June 20, "Hinman did not follow Elections Alberta rules, party rules and nomination guidelines in the race.".Reports from True North said Hinman initially filed a court injunction to stop the board from removing him. The courts said the case was, "too complicated to proceed with an instant remedy." .For the salary to be paid properly, Hinman should have declared a surplus and returned it to party executives to assign, Northey said on Triggered with Cory Morgan at the Western Standard in June.."It’s true half the board won’t be moving following the AGM," Northey told True North in a interview.."The 20 board members are on a two-year term, so just half shuffle out every year, thereby retaining some institutional memory and receiving some fresh ideas." .According to court documents reported by True North Hinman’s case will be heard in court on October 20. .In the meantime, the party’s board has appointed Calgary engineer Jeevan Singh Mangat to lead the WIPA..As the meeting is happening on Saturday, the Western Standard will bring you more information when available..More to come...
