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WEEKEND, JANUARY 27-29, 2017
‘JUST ALL GONE’ Farmers market destroyed by fire metroNEWS
Jean’s race already over, says expert POLITICS
Mt. Royal prof says Kenny will win handily Helen Pike
Metro | Calgary
Tera Viccars, director stylist at Color by Amber, stood in silence when she arrived to assess the damage at the Symons Valley Ranch. JENNIFER FRIESEN/FOR METRO
Saying he’s confident he can defeat the NDP in the next provincial election, Brian Jean announced Thursday he’s seeking a “clear mandate” from his party to throw open its doors and unite the right. The Wildrose leader said he’s willing to step down and join a leadership race should a new conservative party emerge from what would be the rubble of the PC and Wildrose. Mount Royal University Political Science Professor Duane Bratt said the move means Alberta will see a united right-wing party by summer 2017 — led by
Jason Kenney. He said Jean’s announcement means the leader is facing the facts developing right of centre in Alberta. “It’s an acknowledgement that Jason Kenney is going to win the PC leadership,” he said. “What does surprise me is that Jean is going to try and beat Kenney in the leadership of this new party – I think that’s going to be a tough task for him.” Jean said he is answering the Wildrose membership’s call to unite, and do it under the Wildrose’s grassroots mantra. “While I am confident that Wildrose would defeat (Premier Rachel Notley’s) NDP on our own in the next election, consolidating and uniting like-minded conservatives under a single banner is the best chance that we’ll be successful.” “I think Kenney would defeat Brian Jean,” Bratt said. More coverage, pg. 6