PC Party Delegate Selection Meeting

Earlier in February I drove over an hour to attend a delegate selection meeting (DSM).  This is just one more of those things that I've never had the interest, and therefore the opportunity, to attend.  I'm glad I went, though, because it was a gong show.

The average age of attendees was around 59. I wondered as I was looking around the room if it was just older people who show up at these things. Then I remembered I do have something to compare it to. Do you know what the average age is at an Alberta Party event? I'd give it 38.  I promise to attend a Liberal and NDP event in the future so I can compare them as well but obviously, this is a problem for conservatives.

As I entered the designated locale, there were two people standing outside the doors.  "Jason Kenney?" One of them asked me.  "Uhhh" I stammered. I wanted that sheet, but I also wanted the other one and I didn't know how this worked. "Renewal?" The next guy asked while handing me a sheet. I smiled and took his sheet as well.  I entered the building and there were four tables set up for registration.  She found my name, checked my two pieces of identification and gave me a ballot.  Being my first time I filled it out right away since I thought I had all the information I needed.

The rules were reviewed for us and we were going to hear from each of the delegates.  They were instructed to not say anything disparaging about another campaign or candidate and I now wished I could attend more to see if that's a problem at DSMs or if it's just part of the rules.  Even though I'd already chosen my candidates, I was happy we were going to hear from them.  (((Gong)))

The delegates were going to come up one by one and none of them took their full minute. Due to their efficiency, I can put this into bullet points:

1. is not committed to any candidate.  He is waiting for proof that the person running will be a good premier.  He was in municipal government and says that in 10 years he had never had an unbalanced budget.  He said government needs to get used to working with what they have and getting the best value for their dollar. He was new to this process and didn't trust those who make big promises and statements because you can't give everyone everything. 
2. is supporting unity as it's the "only way".  A coalition, he said, was just another shady backroom deal like the last time that would alienate voters. After they unite we can then have our choice of leader. 
3. "Alberta fell apart" she said "and it scared" her.  She is a teacher. "We need to teach kids what PC Alberta is" (is that social engineering?).  She wants a fiscally conservative, socially responsible government.  She is on the Renewal slate.
4. this delegate was listed on both slates as a supporter (wish I'd seen that before I marked my ballot) and was excused from attendance for a valid reason so I have no idea what he stands for.
5. was an Albertan first and would vote to unite together as conservatives.
6. wanted to unify on bigger issues than "defeat the NDP" and she wanted to "do it right".  She also mentioned that she saw a lot of "Wild Conservatives" and "Progressive Rosies" in the crowd.
7. brought up a piece of paper, said she wouldn't take long and had a verbal vomit of "grassroots members, conservatives unite, end socialist government, grassroots"... Unity slate.
8. said it didn't matter who the leader was so long as they "talk to us".
9. is a long-time conservative and is pro-unity.
10. said "if we do the same thing in 2019 expecting a different result, we're kidding ourselves." He wants to unite under Jason Kenney.  He also noted that he was listed on both slates and that was evidence of the "top-down PC party" of the past. 
11. wants to unite before the NDP tears this province apart. 
12. says we need to be strong and get the province back where it should be. 
13. wants to unite the parties with the grassroots. There is no future with the NDP.
14. believed that uniting the right was "admirable" but he wanted the parties to "do it right". 
15. he wasn't sure who he was going to vote for but he wanted the party to "take time to do it right". 
16. said we won't survive under this socialist government and he believed the right leader is Jason Kenney.
17. was an oilfield worker whose son was a recent graduate in environmental science, his daughter was a nurse and his wife was a nurse. Conversations around his table were interesting but they all agreed about one thing: Rewarding free-enterprise and working ethically.  It is important to get a free-enterprise conservative party. 
18. was born and raised in Alberta.  She had worked in oil and gas for 25 years and was a grassroots conservative.  She is voting to unite.
19. was a long-time conservative who is concerned about property rights and what this socialist government will do with them.  She is voting to unite. 
20. was born and raised in Alberta and just wants a fair shake and a government who represents the grassroots.
21. says it is a nightmare in Alberta.  She wants a strong socially responsible conservative government.  She was listed on the Unity slate. 
22. supports Jason Kenney because unity needs to happen for everyone, even the progressive side.  After they unite, we can then elect the right person to run the party and government. 

In the end, I found the people listed on the Unity slate to be cohesive and on-message and the Renewal slate to be less certain of their stance; two stated they didn't know who they would support (and one was on the Renewal slate and wasn't sure why).  Two people were on both slates and the one who was there to speak his peace said he had no idea how he got onto the Renewal slate.  He felt this was evidence of the "old top-down PC party". Talk about disorganization; and embarrassment. Someone once told me to watch Jason Kenney's campaign if I wanted to see a well-organized, tight campaign; he was right (of course).

I spoke with delegate hopeful number one afterwards because I was curious as to how he was going to make his decision.  Unfortunately, he wasn't yet sure.  He'd spoken with Fildebrandt about the unity plan previously but he just wasn't sure if this was the right way to go.  He agreed that there needed to be something more concrete than "beat the NDP" but none of the plans put forward have any more than that yet.  I asked if he'd attended any Wildrose events and he admitted he had not.  I told him the atmosphere was much different.  They are relatively excited, I said, and I think it's because they don't feel like they have anything to lose. The PC events, on the other hand, are mixed; some people are excited, others are not. 

Delegate hopeful number one said his real worry was where the center mass would go; would they go center-left with the liberals? Center-right with the Alberta Party? Would they re-elect the NDP? He doesn't think they'll follow the united conservative party.  I agreed.  Think what you will about the Wildrose plus PC equals beat the NDP but people had a choice last election and they didn't choose Wildrose. Maybe they're counting on a lot of people "holding their noses" to vote Wildrose 2.0.  Or, rather, praying for it. 

D.