Alberta Party meets in Red Deer to gear up for spring election

The Alberta Party held its annual general meeting this weekend in Red Deer as a spring election looks more and more likely.

Leader Greg Clark told members that if Premier Jim Prentice calls an “unnecessary expensive election,” the Alberta Party will be ready to run candidates in as many ridings as possible.

“But I'll tell you this, we're going to go with quality candidates over just a simple quantity of candidates,” he said.

Clark says the Alberta Party will offer voters a clear alternative to the governing Tories.

“Albertans are really looking for a choice this election, they want a party that is fiscally responsible, socially moderate, that's who the Alberta party is,” he said.

“We've seen that we've been able to attract people from all different parts of the political spectrum, we have a broad appeal, that I think really attracts a lot of Albertans.”

Danielle Klooster, a business woman from Penhold, says she used to be a PC supporter, but now she's glad to be helping define the policies of her new party.

“It's democracy, it's messy, there's lots of voices, lots of great ideas, it's forming and gaining momentum because we've just had another four or five years of proof, that we're going to have the same situation over and over again,” she said.

Wildrose leadership

The Wildrose Party is also gearing up for a spring vote. The party held its annual general meeting in Calgary Saturday where officials discussed moving up the party’s leadership vote from June to the end of March.

"I could be wrong, and I hope I'm wrong, that the premier is going to call an illegal election," said interim leader Heather Forsyth. "If he’s going to do that, then we have to look at the timing of our leadership vote."