UCP Riding Association in Southern Alberta Calls for Leadership Review of Premier Danielle Smith
The Highwood UCP riding association has formally requested a leadership review of Premier Danielle Smith, citing her support for the 'stay' option in the upcoming referendum. While this single request cannot trigger a vote without 21 additional associations, it highlights internal party tensions ahead of the October 19 ballot.
The Highwood United Conservative Party (UCP) riding association in southern Alberta has formally requested a leadership review of Premier Danielle Smith. The move is driven by dissatisfaction with Smith’s vocal support for the "stay" option in the upcoming October 19 referendum on Alberta's future within Canada.
Helen Holder, who leads the Highwood association and serves as vice-president of the party board, spearheaded the request. Tanya Clemens, co-leader of the separatist group Let Alberta Decide and a member of the Highwood riding group, defended the call. Clemens stated she was motivated by Smith’s lack of neutrality during the referendum campaign, arguing that the premier should have remained neutral. However, Clemens noted that if a review were held immediately, she might still support Smith.
The request from Highwood alone is insufficient to trigger a special vote on the leader’s future. At least 21 additional party constituency groups would need to adopt similar positions to force such a review. This threshold recalls the events of 2022, when UCP riding associations forced a leadership review of Jason Kenney, who received 51.4 per cent support before subsequently resigning. Rob Smith, currently president of the UCP, was among the constituency presidents leading that anti-Kenney movement.
Internal dissent regarding the referendum stance extends beyond Highwood. Jeff Rath and Mitch Sylvestre, leaders of the Alberta Prosperity Project, have soured on Smith’s leadership due to her pro-unity position. Sylvestre, a UCP riding president in northeast Alberta, previously stated he would organize a movement to force a leadership review or make the UCP endorse independence, though no public progress was shown. Conversely, Keith Wilson, the other leader of Let Alberta Decide, has been supportive of Smith and her decision to hold the referendum.
RJ Sigurdson, the current MLA for Highwood and Affordability Minister, issued a statement distancing himself from the riding association's decision. He reaffirmed his full support for Premier Smith. Highwood is a riding south of Calgary that includes the town of Okotoks. Smith previously represented Highwood as an MLA when she led the Wildrose Party but now represents Brooks-Medicine Hat.
Premier Smith recently spoke at the Alberta and the West Assembly, organized by Preston Manning, where she reaffirmed her support for the "stay" option and "yes" votes on immigration and constitutional questions. Her government has launched a $4 million ad campaign regarding the 10 referendum questions facing Albertans. Polls indicate that while independence is popular among some UCP backers, the vast majority of Albertans support staying in Canada. The Alberta NDP contends that public distaste for separatism helped them flip the Calgary-Shaw riding in a by-election last Monday.
United Conservative members gave Danielle Smith 91.5 per cent support in the last scheduled leadership review at the 2024 annual party convention. The next UCP convention is scheduled for late November, after the referendum, with no leadership review currently planned.