Smith to call UCP presidents who refuse separatism pledge

Alberta Premier Danielle Smith says she will personally call United Conservative Party constituency association presidents who are refusing to sign a new code of conduct committing them to respect the results of last month’s referendum.

“This isn’t about free speech or reducing free speech,” Smith told reporters Friday. She said any member may think or say what they want, but those in spokesperson roles must reflect the party’s policies and principles.

The CBC reported earlier this week that the party’s executive director asked all 87 constituency presidents to sign by the end of Friday. In a joint response, 15 presidents said they will not. They argued the board has no power to punish members for holding a position on a political issue, and called it a free-speech matter.

Smith said she will “give them a call” and that political parties exist to win elections, which takes a team approach. About 75 per cent of voters in the Oct. 19 referendum said they want Alberta to stay in Canada and not hold a second, binding vote on separation.

One of the 15 signatories is Mitch Sylvestre, who led the petition that gathered about 300,000 signatures for a binding separation vote. The party has also stripped membership from separatist activist Jeff Rath, who was a lawyer for the petition group.

Party spokesperson Dave Prisco said the UCP will work respectfully with constituency leaders. “We will respect and honour the referendum results, and a strong Alberta within a united Canada is our position,” he said in an email.

The code of conduct is the party’s second move since the vote. As we reported, candidates for the UCP board must sign a pledge to honour the result or risk disqualification at the annual general meeting. Earlier coverage includes the $84 million cost of the referendum, the fight over the quashed separation petition and the legislature’s return after the vote.

Reporting by The Canadian Press, with the original story at thecanadianpressnews.ca.

If you find reporting like this useful, consider supporting Canada News Media, an independently owned Canadian newsroom.