Wildrose supporters have every right to feel betrayed by the surprise announcement that nine Wildrose MLAs — most notably leader Danielle Smith — are “crossing the floor” to join the Progressive Conservatives.
The move essentially guts their party, but more importantly, the residents of those nine ridings did not elect a PC MLA; they voted for a Wildrose Party member to represent them.
This is the problem that occurs every time we have an elected representative leave one political faction for another — it’s a betrayal of the electorate.
It’s our feeling that MLAs (or Members of Parliament, for that matter) who are defecting to another party should resign their post and sit as an independent until a byelection is called or the next provincial election is held. It’s not as though the PCs desperately needed new members to hold a majority.
In a greater sense, this move is a blow to good governance in Alberta. Whether or not you believe the Wildrose was an effective Opposition — they were certainly very loud, if nothing else — they were still the only party of any size to pose even a mild threat to the Conservatives.
Let’s not pretend the PCs have a perfect record of governance. Financial abuse ran rampant under former Premier Alison Redford, and Ed Stelmach’s health care record left much to be desired.
It’s not a bad thing to have an Opposition that will hold the government accountable when it’s wrong. A government that feels too secure in their power is one that will eventually give into excess.
But the one challenger to the Conservatives’ hold on power has been thoroughly undercut. The chances of the Wildrose being a formidable force in this province ever again have been greatly diminished.
Perhaps it was always going to be that way. Perhaps the Wildrose have truly achieved their goals of forcing the Conservatives to “return to their roots.” Perhaps this is a victory, whether you’re a PC or a Wildrose supporter. Perhaps the decimation of the Wildrose is simply the punchline to a joke we knew had to end sooner or later.
But for the cause of democracy as a whole, it still feels like a loss.
