It’s been an eventful year in Alberta politics, and it’s only July. Whether it's Alberta separatism, fiscal controversy, or the restructuring of Alberta Health Services, it can feel like the next headline is never far away.
Lesser Slave Lake MLA Scott Sinclair is hoping he can help restore a sense of normalcy — and federalism — to the discussion. In a July 5 press conference, Sinclair and Airdrie-Cochrane MLA Peter Guthrie announced their intention to restart the Progressive Conservative Party of Alberta, the party that ran the province for 44 years in a row from 1971 to 2015.
“Whether it’s in a surplus or a deficit, northern Alberta always seems to get the short end of the stick, and I think people are frustrated and tired of it. It’s the same way I think Albertans feel about Ottawa,” said Sinclair in a July 9 interview.
“At the end of the day, I still feel like I want to be a part of a government that helps fix the problems in Canada, and in northern Alberta, and I feel like both could be done at the same time by staying inside the country.”
Sinclair, a first-term MLA, was elected under the United Conservative Party banner in the 2023 election but was removed from caucus earlier this year after he criticized the budget. Since then, he’s been sitting as an independent MLA alongside Guthrie, who was also removed from caucus after critiquing provincial procurement standards in early 2025.
“We were both removed from the party for similar, but different reasons, but they both revolved around fiscal discipline and transparency. Things that really get conservatives re-elected,” said Sinclair.
Sinclair said he was initially planning on finding a way back to the UCP, but Bill 54 was, “a real game-changer,” that got the two MLAs talking about starting their own party.
“We feel like because the UCP have morphed into more of a separatist party that there’s no option for the moderate conservatives, and we believe that actually represents the majority of the population,” said Sinclair.
From there, a mutual acquaintance put them in touch with the woman who had registered the PC name.
“When we make decisions, it should be for the better of most people, most of the time. That tagline is where we would like to start.”
A common question for the duo has been around vote splitting. The 44-year dynasty the old PCs enjoyed came to an end in 2015, when they split the right-wing vote with the Wild Rose party and opened the door for Rachel Notley’s NDP government.
“We’re counting on splitting the vote from both sides of the spectrum. In terms of vote splitting, that train has already left the station,” said Sinclair, pointing to the Republican Party of Alberta’s showing in the recent by-election.
“We feel like there’s a lane right up the middle where we can win. I would say Danielle Smith is the one who split the conservative movement by trying to, not just divide the province, but by separating from the country."
Provincial party, local values
Locally, Sinclair said he was looking forward to bringing back the PC legacy. While he acknowledged the branding took a hit in the lead up to the 2015 election, he pointed to the 44-year run and the riding’s consistent support of longtime MLAs Larry Shaben and Pearl Calahasen as indicators of success.
“For a long time, people understood what that brand meant, and it gives instant credibility. We have two sitting MLAs this time and we believe we have a good chance of forming government,” he said.
“The feedback has been largely positive. Using my Facebook as a gauge, I’m probably somewhere in the 85 to 90 per cent positive. I don’t know if that’s for the idea itself, or perhaps some goodwill I’ve built up.”
Before that can happen, the party needs to regain official party status through a petition. Some 8,819 real signatures are required, so Sinclair and Guthrie will be out and about in Alberta throughout the summer months.
Politically, Sinclair said it was time to get back to what wins conservatives elections.
“Three years of deficits, reining in the spending on wants and start taking care of the needs. Nowhere is that more obvious than in northern Alberta. The resources are a one-way street,” said Sinclair.
“A lot of the money and the royalties come from our area but we haven’t seen enough of it returned and that’s something I would like to make sure is a staple of this new idea, that we take care of everybody in the province, not just based on population.”
