Reform Party of Alberta
Encyclopedia
The Reform Party of Alberta is a defunct provincial
political party
in Alberta
, Canada
, that was registered with Elections Alberta
. Its leader was David Salmon.
on August 24, 1989 not to contest general elections, but to contest elections held by the Government of Alberta to select its nominees to the Canadian Senate
, a body that is appointed by the Governor General of Canada
on the recommendation of the Prime Minister
.
The party contested Senate nominee elections, the 1989 Senate election
and the 1998 Senate election
. The Reform Party of Alberta nominated and ran only three candidates in its history: Stanley Waters
, Ted Morton
and Bert Brown
.
The other and primary purpose was to keep Reform focused as a federal party instead of being distracted by provincial campaigns. Nonetheless, there was considerable agitation at this time by some Albertan Reform members to form an active provincial party that could challenge Don Getty
's unpopular Progressive Conservative government. In some opinion polls, the dormant Reform Party actually placed ahead of the Tories. When Ralph Klein was elected to lead the PCs in 1992, enthusiasm for an alternative right wing party that might split the vote
with the Tories and benefit the surging Liberals
quickly faded.
Unlike what is the case in most Canadian
provinces, an Albertan political party did not lose its registration if it does not nominate candidates during a general election
, de-registration only happens if the party ceases to file financial statements with the electoral office. The Reform Party did not nominate any candidates for election to the Legislative Assembly of Alberta
in the 2004 Alberta general election
, due to a change in the rules the party registration was withdrawn by the chief electoral officer.
The federal Reform Party's successor, the Canadian Alliance
, was also not interested in forming provincial wings, but unlike Reform, the CA did not register the Alliance name with provincial electoral officers during its short history. As a result, a section of the Albertan CA membership formed the Alberta Alliance in 2002. Unlike Reform, the Alberta Alliance was an active political party—it fielded a full slate of candidates in the 2004 general election, and won one seat in the Legislature.
The Reform Party of Alberta was deregistered after the election, along with the Equity Party
.
Expenses for the campaign were $197,641.00, resulting in a deficit of $7,260.04.
Note: Future party leader David Salmon was Stan Waters official agent.
Province
A province is a territorial unit, almost always an administrative division, within a country or state.-Etymology:The English word "province" is attested since about 1330 and derives from the 13th-century Old French "province," which itself comes from the Latin word "provincia," which referred to...
political party
Political party
A political party is a political organization that typically seeks to influence government policy, usually by nominating their own candidates and trying to seat them in political office. Parties participate in electoral campaigns, educational outreach or protest actions...
in Alberta
Alberta
Alberta is a province of Canada. It had an estimated population of 3.7 million in 2010 making it the most populous of Canada's three prairie provinces...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
, that was registered with Elections Alberta
Elections Alberta
Elections Alberta is the non-partisan organization which oversees general elections and by-elections for the Legislative Assembly of Alberta. Elections Alberta also oversees Senatorial elections and plebiscites.-History:...
. Its leader was David Salmon.
Early history
The party was registered by members of the former Reform Party of CanadaReform Party of Canada
The Reform Party of Canada was a Canadian federal political party that existed from 1987 to 2000. It was originally founded as a Western Canada-based protest party, but attempted to expand eastward in the 1990s. It viewed itself as a populist party....
on August 24, 1989 not to contest general elections, but to contest elections held by the Government of Alberta to select its nominees to the Canadian Senate
Canadian Senate
The Senate of Canada is a component of the Parliament of Canada, along with the House of Commons, and the monarch . The Senate consists of 105 members appointed by the governor general on the advice of the prime minister...
, a body that is appointed by the Governor General of Canada
Governor General of Canada
The Governor General of Canada is the federal viceregal representative of the Canadian monarch, Queen Elizabeth II...
on the recommendation of the Prime Minister
Prime Minister of Canada
The Prime Minister of Canada is the primary minister of the Crown, chairman of the Cabinet, and thus head of government for Canada, charged with advising the Canadian monarch or viceroy on the exercise of the executive powers vested in them by the constitution...
.
The party contested Senate nominee elections, the 1989 Senate election
Alberta Senate nominee election, 1989
The 1st Alberta Senate nominee election was held on October 16, 1989 in Alberta, Canada. It was held in conjunction with Alberta municipal elections under the Local Authorities Election Act., and resulted in the first Canadian Senator appointed following a popular election.The vote was held along...
and the 1998 Senate election
Alberta Senate nominee election, 1998
The 2nd Alberta Senate nominee election was held in Alberta, Canada, on October 19, 1998 in conjunction with the Alberta Municipal Elections. It was held to elect Alberta's candidates for appointment to the Canadian Senate....
. The Reform Party of Alberta nominated and ran only three candidates in its history: Stanley Waters
Stanley Waters
Lieutenant General Stanley Charles "Stan" Waters, CD was Canada's first Senator to be appointed to his Senate seat following a non-binding provincial Senate election.-Early life:...
, Ted Morton
Ted Morton
Frederick Lee Morton , known commonly as Ted Morton, is a Canadian politician and Minister of Energy for the Province of Alberta. As a Member of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta he represents the constituency of Foothills-Rocky View as a Progressive Conservative...
and Bert Brown
Bert Brown
For the English footballer Bert Brown, see Sailor BrownBert Brown is a Canadian Senator and retired farmer and development consultant currently residing in Balzac, Alberta.-Early life:...
.
The other and primary purpose was to keep Reform focused as a federal party instead of being distracted by provincial campaigns. Nonetheless, there was considerable agitation at this time by some Albertan Reform members to form an active provincial party that could challenge Don Getty
Don Getty
Donald Ross Getty, OC, AOE is a retired Canadian politician who served as the 11th Premier of Alberta between 1985 and 1992. A member of the Progressive Conservatives, he served as Energy Minister and Federal and Intergovernmental Affairs Minister in the government of Peter Lougheed before...
's unpopular Progressive Conservative government. In some opinion polls, the dormant Reform Party actually placed ahead of the Tories. When Ralph Klein was elected to lead the PCs in 1992, enthusiasm for an alternative right wing party that might split the vote
Vote splitting
Vote splitting is an electoral effect in which the distribution of votes among multiple similar candidates reduces the chance of winning for any of the similar candidates, and increases the chance of winning for a dissimilar candidate....
with the Tories and benefit the surging Liberals
Alberta Liberal Party
The Alberta Liberal Party is a provincial political party in Alberta, Canada. Originally founded in 1905, when the province was created, it was the dominant political party until 1921 when it was defeated. It has never been in government since that time...
quickly faded.
Unlike what is the case in most Canadian
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
provinces, an Albertan political party did not lose its registration if it does not nominate candidates during a general election
General election
In a parliamentary political system, a general election is an election in which all or most members of a given political body are chosen. The term is usually used to refer to elections held for a nation's primary legislative body, as distinguished from by-elections and local elections.The term...
, de-registration only happens if the party ceases to file financial statements with the electoral office. The Reform Party did not nominate any candidates for election to the Legislative Assembly of Alberta
Legislative Assembly of Alberta
The Legislative Assembly of Alberta is one of two components of the Legislature of Alberta, the other being the Queen, represented by the Lieutenant-Governor of Alberta. The Alberta legislature meets in the Alberta Legislature Building in the provincial capital, Edmonton...
in the 2004 Alberta general election
Alberta general election, 2004
The Alberta general election of 2004 was the twenty-sixth general election for the province of Alberta, Canada. It was held on November 22, 2004 to elect members of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta....
, due to a change in the rules the party registration was withdrawn by the chief electoral officer.
The federal Reform Party's successor, the Canadian Alliance
Canadian Alliance
The Canadian Alliance , formally the Canadian Reform Conservative Alliance , was a Canadian conservative political party that existed from 2000 to 2003. The party was the successor to the Reform Party of Canada and inherited its position as the Official Opposition in the House of Commons and held...
, was also not interested in forming provincial wings, but unlike Reform, the CA did not register the Alliance name with provincial electoral officers during its short history. As a result, a section of the Albertan CA membership formed the Alberta Alliance in 2002. Unlike Reform, the Alberta Alliance was an active political party—it fielded a full slate of candidates in the 2004 general election, and won one seat in the Legislature.
The Reform Party of Alberta was deregistered after the election, along with the Equity Party
Forum Party of Alberta
The Forum Party of Alberta was a political party in the Province of Alberta, Canada. The party was created on March 2, 1995.It later became the Equity Party, which held its founding convention in May 2000...
.
List of Leaders
- Preston ManningPreston ManningErnest Preston Manning, CC is a Canadian politician. He was the only leader of the Reform Party of Canada, a Canadian federal political party that evolved into the Canadian Alliance...
(1989 - 2000) - David Salmon (2000 - 2004)
1989 Senatorial financial statement
According to the official archives of Elections Alberta, in the 1989 Senate election, the Stan Waters campaign received $147,822 in campaign donations, $19,000 transferred from the Reform Party of Alberta, and $23,558.96 was from fundraising functions, for a total of $190,380.96 in campaign period revenue.Expenses for the campaign were $197,641.00, resulting in a deficit of $7,260.04.
Note: Future party leader David Salmon was Stan Waters official agent.
See also
- Reform Party of OntarioReform Party of OntarioThe Reform Party of Ontario is a political party in Ontario, Canada. Until the 1999 provincial election, the party ran one candidate each election merely to keep the party's name in the possession of the Reform Party of Canada....
- List of Alberta political parties