Frustrated by what he believes to be a lack of rural representation within government, former UCP, now independent MLA Drew Barnes has published a discussion paper suggesting forming a political party that only has seats in rural Alberta.
“Let’s face it, the PCU was a great idea on paper that has not worked in practice,” wrote Barnes.
“Under Jason Kenney, the party has moved away from the rural values and policies that propelled the PCU to victory in 2019.”
Barnes was expelled from the caucus, along with Todd Loewen, in May for repeatedly speaking out against the government’s decisions. He now believes that the best way forward for rural Albertans is an independent party that would run in all 41 constituencies located outside of Edmonton and Calgary, ensuring that the party abandons its principles in search of urban votes.
READ MORE: Alberta MLAs Todd Loewen, Drew Barnes kicked out of UCP caucus after emergency meeting
“I was kicked out of the caucus for just expressing the opinions of what my constituents were saying,” Barnes told Global News.
“Rural Albertans everywhere were telling me that they feel like no one is backing them, that their voices and ideas are not being heard.”
Barnes anticipates that the party will be in the same mold as the former federal Reform Party, or the provincial Wildrose Party, a banner under which he was elected in 2012 and 2015. He says the people he talks to don’t want to see another NDP government But you don’t feel at home with the PCU either, so you want to give them an alternative.
Barnes knows the split-vote arguments will be made, but as it stands now, he sees the NDP on the path to majority rule unless something changes, and believes that a rural presence in the legislature could prove to be a powerful force. .
“If you don’t vote for what you want, you will never get it, so let’s risk voting for what we want.”
Barnes says the idea is still in the discussion stage.
© 2021 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.
Reference-globalnews.ca