Independent MLA wants rural votes with possible new political party

CALGARY — An independent MLA in Alberta wants to add another option to the next provincial election ballot, but only if you live outside Calgary and Edmonton.

Former UCP representative Drew Barnes told Global News he is exploring the idea of a new political party, which would only run candidates in dozens of ridings away from the major cities.

He told them the UCP has abandoned the values of rural voters and new options are needed.

The MLA for Cypress-Medicine Hat was booted from the UCP caucus in May for criticizing the government’s response to the pandemic. Central Peace-Notley MLA Todd Loewen was also removed from the party at the same time for the same reason.

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Barnes said this idea is still in early discussion stages and many more details need to be worked out first.

While third parties have not had much success in Alberta lately — as shown by the poor results for the Alberta Party and Liberal Party in the most recent election — there could be some precedent to this.

“Looks like it’s a replication of the old Wildrose Party that (Barnes) was elected on in 2012 and in 2015 that had strong rural support and very little penetration in the two major cities,” said Mount Royal University political scientist Duane Bratt.

Bratt added there is a storied history with right-leaning parties getting some support in rural Alberta before the Wildrose began making waves, so there is some potential behind it.

There also could be a valid point made with the UCP having a cabinet mostly filled with ministers from urban ridings. Bratt’s questions lie in the finer details, though.

“It shows some of the divisions that we knew existed within the UCP and his answer is that, as most conservatives do, build your own new party,” he said. “He talks about rural values, what are those values that are different from urban values? Except for maybe not getting vaccinated or wearing a COVID mask.”

660 NEWS has reached out to Barnes for comment.