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Freedom Conservative Party of Alberta

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Freedom Conservative Party of Alberta
LeaderDavid White (interim)
PresidentBill Jones
FoundedJune 22, 2018 (as Freedom Conservative)
DissolvedJuly 23, 2020
Preceded byAlberta First Party
Merged intoWildrose Independence Party of Alberta
HeadquartersEdmonton, Alberta
Membership2,000
IdeologyRight-libertarianism[1]
Fiscal conservatism
Alberta autonomism[1]
Political positionRight-wing
ColoursDark blue and red
   
Website
www.freedomconservativeparty.ca

The Freedom Conservative Party of Alberta (French: Parti de la liberté conservatrice de l'Alberta) was an Albertan autonomist, libertarian and conservative political party in Alberta, Canada.[2][3]

The party was named the Alberta First Party (French: Alberta d'abord) from 1999 to 2004, when it changed its name to the Separation Party of Alberta (French: Parti de la Séparation de l'Alberta). In 2013, it reverted to Alberta First.[4] In April 2018, it became the Western Freedom Party of Alberta (French: Parti de la liberté de l'Ouest de l'Alberta).[5] On June 22, 2018, it was announced that the Western Freedom Party had changed to its present name.[2]

On April 27, 2020, the party announced plans to merge with Wexit Alberta and for a new party called the Wildrose Independence Party of Alberta.[6][7] Members of both parties voted to approve the merger on June 29, 2020.[8][9] In July 2020, Wildrose Independence Party of Alberta was officially registered with Elections Alberta, giving effect to the merger.[10][11]

MLAs

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The party had one member, Derek Fildebrandt, in the Alberta Legislature prior to the 2019 Alberta general election.

Beliefs

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According to the founding documents[12] the main objectives of the party were as follows:

  1. Autonomy for Alberta
  2. Freedom for Alberta
  3. Responsibility for Alberta's government.

The Freedom Conservative Party advocates for an autonomous Alberta within a United Canada and is libertarian, and fiscally conservative in its leanings. For example, the parties founding documents call for the government to "pass no law to protect two consenting adults from themselves" and "abolish unnecessary controls over the economy".[13]

Fiscally the founding document lays out that Alberta should "collect no more revenue than is needed and spend no more revenue than is required".[14]

History

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The Freedom Conservative Party took over the legal shell of the former Alberta First Party. After changing its name to the Freedom Conservative Party of Alberta on June 22, 2018, it gained its first MLA after Derek Fildebrandt changed his affiliation from Independent Conservative and crossed the floor after being barred from running as a candidate for the United Conservative Party.

He was appointed interim leader, pending a vote. During the announcement of the new party, Fildebrandt stated that it is not a separatist party but rather, its members were "conservatives, libertarians and Alberta patriots".[15][3]

It plans to run candidates in conservative strongholds, such as rural Alberta. Fildebrandt has stated he intends to avoid placing candidates in ridings where he believes the incumbent governing New Democratic Party would have a chance of winning in case of a split in the conservative vote.[16]

Leadership election

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The party's first convention under the Freedom Party name was held in Chestermere and first leadership race since 1999 was held on October 20, 2018.[17] Interim leader Derek Fildebrandt was the only leadership candidate, and therefore was acclaimed as leader.[18] After the 2019 Alberta General Election and resignation of Derek Fildebrandt, David White was elected on the second ballot as Interim Leader of the Freedom Conservative Party at a party meeting in Calgary on May 4, 2019. Three candidates were on the ballot.

2018 Freedom Conservative Party of Alberta leadership election
DateOctober 20, 2018
ConventionCamp Chestermere, Chestermere
Won byDerek Fildebrandt (acclaimed)
Candidates1

Election results

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The 30th Alberta general election which will be held in 2019 is the Freedom Conservative Parties first contested election in its current form.

Election Leader Seats Change Place Votes % Position
2019 Derek Fildebrandt
0 / 87
 Decrease 1 Decrease 6th 8,982 0.54% No seats

In the Alberta 2019 election, the party is so far confirmed to be running the following candidates in the following ridings:

Leadership history

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Name Banner Date Notes
Derek Fildebrandt Freedom Conservative Party 2018–2019 Changed party name to Freedom Conservative Party in June 2018.
Name Banner Date Notes
David White (interim) Freedom Conservative Party 2019–present Elected May 4, 2019 on second ballot. Contested with three candidates.

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b "Bernier talks equalization and pipelines at Calgary 'Equality or Independence' rally". CBC News. January 26, 2019. Retrieved February 27, 2019.
  2. ^ a b "Derek Fildebrandt to launch Freedom Conservative Party of Alberta | CBC News". CBC. Retrieved 2018-07-25.
  3. ^ a b "New Freedom Conservative Party not separatist, rather 'Alberta patriots': Fildebrandt". Calgary Herald. 2018-07-20. Retrieved 2018-07-25.
  4. ^ "Elections Alberta". Retrieved 26 February 2019.
  5. ^ "Parties | Elections Alberta". Elections Alberta. Retrieved 2018-05-04.
  6. ^ Mertz, Emily (April 27, 2020). "FCP and Wexit members to vote on merging into Wildrose Independence Party of Alberta". Global News. Retrieved April 27, 2020.
  7. ^ Antoneshyn, Alex (April 27, 2020). "Union between Wexit, Freedom Conservative parties on the table". CTV News. Retrieved April 27, 2020.
  8. ^ Labby, Bryan (June 30, 2020). "Wexit Alberta and Freedom Conservative Party vote to merge as Wildrose Independence Party of Alberta". CBC News. Retrieved July 3, 2020.
  9. ^ Naylor, Dave (June 29, 2020). "The 'Wildrose' is back: FCP & Wexit members vote to form new party". Western Standard. Retrieved July 3, 2020.
  10. ^ Naylor, Dave (July 17, 2020). "WIP gets official status from Elections Alberta". Western Standard. Archived from the original on July 24, 2020. Retrieved July 30, 2020.
  11. ^ "Parties". Elections Alberta. 2020. Retrieved July 30, 2020.
  12. ^ "Freedom Conservative Party Founding Documents". Freedom Conservative Party. Freedom Conservative Party. Archived from the original on 10 December 2018. Retrieved 21 February 2019.
  13. ^ "Freedom Conservative Party Principles". Freedom Conservative Party. Archived from the original on 10 December 2018. Retrieved 21 February 2019.
  14. ^ "Freedom Conservative Party Founding Documents". Freedom Conservative Party Principles. Archived from the original on 10 December 2018. Retrieved 21 February 2019.
  15. ^ Braid, Don (July 19, 2018). "Braid: Fildebrandt's new party earns ferocious response from Kenney". Calgary Herald.
  16. ^ "Derek Fildebrandt formally launches Alberta Freedom Conservative Party". The Globe and Mail. Retrieved 2018-09-16.
  17. ^ "Convention - Freedom Conservative Party".
  18. ^ "Derek Fildebrandt acclaimed as leader of new Freedom Conservative Party".
  19. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w "Freedom Conservative Party Candidates". Freedom Conservative Party. Retrieved 21 February 2019.
  20. ^ "Elections Alberta Nomination Contestants". Elections Alberta. Retrieved 21 February 2019.
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