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Barnes believes Fildebrandt is testing the waters of a UCP leadership bid with ‘United Liberty’ announcement

Jun 23, 2017 | 6:01 PM

MEDICINE HAT, AB — The latest player on Alberta’s political stage was unveiled Thursday night when Strathmore-Brooks MLA Derek Fildebrandt announced his new United Liberty group.

With the goal of making the United Conservative Party (UCP) a reality, the latest entry into Alberta’s ever increasing political action committee landscape is also aiming to promote ‘liberty-conservative’ principles.

While Fildebrandt may have dropped some hints, he’s not committing to a leadership run just yet.

“I don’t think we should be formally running for the leadership of something that doesn’t exist yet until the members have given us their consent,” said Fildebrandt after the town hall.

However, Fildebrandt’s United Liberty website says he will be releasing policies soon for the proposed UCP, and should no one come forward representing the values his proposals encompass in the leadership race, then Fildebrandt will “be the vehicle for that new conservatism”.

Medicine Hat College Political Science Instructor Jim Groom said on Friday it’s evident Fildebrandt is setting the wheels in motion for a run at the UCP’s leadership.

“It’s a little strange that Mr. Fildebrandt didn’t exactly announce that he was running for the position,” says Groom. “He did everything but that.”

Even a member of Fildebrandt’s own party believes that’s pretty much the case.

“I absolutely see it as him (Fildebrandt) testing the waters,” said Cypress-Medicine Hat MLA Drew Barnes over the phone from Lethbridge. “My preference though is let’s all focus on the unity vote first.”

Barnes, who is in favour of unity, is also considering his own political action committee.

“We’ve got quite a few things on the table and one of the things we’re looking at is a PAC that’s focused on making sure Cpyress-Medicine Hat’s voice is heard in Edmonton as much as possible.”

From Groom’s perspective, unity itself is a bad idea for a Wildrose party that’s been leading consistently in the polls.

“The Wildrose has put themselves in a bad situation by agreeing to this (unity vote),” he says. “They were in a position of power, they’re in a position of compromise now.”

For unity to be successful Wildrose members need to pass an approval threshold of 75 per cent in favour of uniting, while Progressive Conservative members need to reach 50 per cent plus one.

The vote takes place on July 22.