Creation of new right-wing party questioned by PC, Wildrose leaders

The leaders of the Wildrose and Progressive Conservative parties are skeptical about a proposal to create a new right-wing party in Alberta to defeat the NDP in the next election.

On the weekend, people at a meeting in Red Deer voted to create a new party rather thanamalgamateconservatives under the Wildrose or PC parties or stick with the status quo.

Wildrose Leader Brian Jean said the only option is for conservatives to unite under his party's banner.

• Alberta unite the right group votes for new party
• Alberta political action committee brings unite-the-right show to Edmonton

"We think the formation of a third party is frankly not helpful at all," saidJean.

"We want to consolidate conservatives, we want to make sure we are the only choice in the next election that there will be a fiscally conservative government in Alberta."

PC interim leader Ric McIver said he isn't sure what to make of the vote and said he needed more clarification.

"If I was going to try to unite the right, I'm not sure I would do it by creating more parties on the right," he said.

Though the unite-the-right issue isn't on the agenda for this weekend's PC annual general meetingin Red Deer, McIver thinks it will come up during question and answer sessions.

Talks about uniting right-wing voters under one party surfaced after the NDP won a majority government in the May 2015 provincial election. Some attributed the victory to a vote split betweenWildrose and PC candidates.

The meeting in Red Deer was organized by a group called "Alberta Can't Wait." A political action committee called Alberta Prosperity Fund has also held unite the right meetings across Alberta.

In a release sent Friday, the group said Albertanshavetold them thePCs and Wildrose parties needto unite

"We disagree with the option of setting up a new party before the grassroots members of the Wildrose and PC party, and Albertans, have had the chance to voice their opinions on the matter," fund president Barry McNamar said.