Whoever won last Thursday's UCP leadership race was going to have a gargantuan problem on their hands: Heal this party within six months or lose the next election to the NDP..Almost half the party spoke through their votes that they didn't want Danielle Smith. If it had been over in the first round her opponents would likely carry less of a grudge. Instead the night ground bitterly on, round after round, as long as it possibly could..At our watch party here in Edmonton, as soon as the news broke that Smith won, several tables got up and went home before even hearing her talk. Yet soon-to-be-Premier Smith's victory speech was exceptionally eloquent, filled with gracious (and necessary) platitudes to her opponents in the race, and to former Premier Kenney..But let's not kid ourselves. We must find a way for those who feel aggrieved last night to vent their frustrations internally or the party will explode in two all over again..Here are the facts. Many supported the vaccine mandate and even the lockdown. Though much coercion went on, nevertheless most Albertans took the jab willingly and view those who refused to do so as selfish. The NDP will now paint the UCP as a party led by an antivaxxer who wants to break up this country. Neither of these charges are true, but since when did the NDP care about the truth?.I'm not saying a Travis win would have been any better. But, the fact Danielle got 54% to his 46% from the largest party AGM voter turnout in Alberta history speaks to the fact that she in fact does represent the majority of views within the party, however slim it may be..The problem is that large minority view now inside the UCP very much reflects the view of many if not most of the rest of Albertans outside the party..And there will no doubt be some within the UCP ranks who hold out hope to upset Danielle's apple cart by gathering the 22 necessary CA votes to force yet another SGM and kick her out of office in record time..Either that or they may choose to jump ship from the UCP. Although it's doubtful such people could stomach joining the NDP, other options exist: A resurrected Alberta Party is the most obvious exit strategy..I have to ask myself, "What if events had played out differently last night with Travis?" With the risk of his historical actions repeating themselves, his taking the reigns of power would be very hard for me to handle. The temptation to pull up stakes, think "screw the UCP" and storm off to another party, would be enormous..Anger and pride are probably the two most powerful emotions in service to the Great Deceiver. C.S. Lewis describes it as "a spiritual cancer: It eats up the very possibility of love, or contentment, or even common sense.".And let me be absolutely clear to my fellow UCP members. We need to be wise. We need to be mature. Our kids are counting on us to do the right thing. Every person who now walks from the UCP is essentially inching the NDP one step closer to winning in the next election..The beautiful thing I love about the UCP is that we not only tolerate our members holding differing views, we celebrate it. Imagine each of our perspectives as uniquely colorful and beautiful in its own way, but together they create an absolutely stunning kaleidoscopic expression of glorious freedom..This is why I love going to conservative events. I am guaranteed to meet interesting new people and fascinating perspectives. Last night I heard a beautiful young urbanite woman who professes bisexuality speak, and then listened a massive crane operator just back from Fort Mac who was nowhere near as easy on the eyes but nevertheless exceptionally well spoken and highly knowledgeable on labour relations. I heard concerns about party member apathy from an elegantly dressed older couple and then listened to a formerly-diehard socialist who has now woken up to embrace the path towards an autonomous Alberta..One thing I can tell with absolute certainty: Freedom of speech is alive and well right now in the UCP..So herein lies the great blessing bestowed on us during this recent membership run-up. Our party currently houses almost every view in our province save one: Socialism. If we can keep it together, then we will win the next election. If we can't, then the socialists win and we are destined to be taxed into oblivion..We've had our race, and we have our new premier. Now it's time to help her turn Alberta into a beacon of light to shine all over this world, where freedom and prosperity carry the day..Vince Byfield is an Edmontonian who administers a Facebook Group called 'The Battle For Alberta' and is running to become the Edmonton Regional Director for the UCP Board of Directors.
