UCP hosts annual general meeting on heels of Alberta-Canada pipeline deal

Members of the United Conservative Party will gather in Edmonton this weekend for their annual general meeting.

This comes on the heels of Premier Danielle Smith’s landmark deal with the federal government, marked by the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding with Prime Minister Mark Carney Thursday.

The deal commits both parties to working toward building an oil pipeline to the West Coast and opens the door to changes to the coastal tanker ban.

It’s being touted as a win for Smith and the governing UCP, especially as her party faces criticism on many fronts, including the use of the notwithstanding clause to end the Alberta teacher strike and to push through anti-trans health bills.

Recall petitions have been approved for 14 members of Smith’s caucus, including Minister of Education Demetrios Nicolaides and Speaker of the House Ric McIver.

Mount Royal University political scientist, Duane Bratt, says although the MOU is a success for Smith, she can’t take all the credit.

“She is going to claim that she has changed public opinion in Canada and changed Mark Carney because of her diplomatic efforts and because of her threats, and I think she’s got a case to be made there,” he said. “But I think — more imporantly — she was pushing against an open door, and really, it’s the transformation of Canada as a result of Donald Trump.”

As for the AGM, more than 3,500 party faithful are expected to gather at the Edmonton Expo Centre Friday, Saturday.

Smith will give a keynote address to attendees Saturday morning.

Also on the docket is debate and voting on 36 proposed policy resolutions, including reintroducing coal-powered electricity, restricting which flags are flown on public property, cutting off funding for late-term abortions except when medically necessary, and making temporary residents pay for health care.

–With files from The Canadian Press