He also had choice words for a move by a front-runner in the Alberta United Conservative Party leadership contest who has vowed to introduce legislation to override federal laws. “I think this is crazy,” Clark said of Danielle Smith’s proposed Alberta Sovereignty Act. READ MORE: Alberta House leader says she doubts Danielle Smith’s proposed sovereignty bill will pass Clark’s comment followed an impassioned speech she delivered in Edmonton to a room of conservatives gathered to discuss the need to keep the federal party closer to the political center. The event was hosted by the Center Ice Conservatives, an advocacy group formed at the start of the Tory leadership contest to encourage candidates to focus on issues such as the economy. He argues that advocating for affordability measures resonates with mainstream Canadians more than others, such as fighting pandemic-related health restrictions, which has become a rallying cry for many in the conservative movement. Story continues below ad Its co-founder, Rick Peterson, entered the party’s 2017 leadership contest and said the new group would not endorse a candidate in the current race. Clark was the keynote speaker at Thursday’s event and only commented on the contest to replace Alberta Premier Jason Kenney as UCP leader when prompted by an audience member. 1:54Poilievre, Lewis absent as Conservative leadership candidates battle in final debate Poilievre, Lewis absent as Conservative leadership candidates battle in final debate – August 3, 2022 Clark, who previously led the centre-right BC Liberal Party, spoke for about 20 minutes about the need for political leaders to focus on what Canadians have in common rather than divisive. Trending Stories
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He accused Prime Minister Justin Trudeau of dividing the country when he said the views of “Freedom Convoy” protesters who blocked roads and highways last winter to oppose COVID-19 vaccine mandates were unacceptable. Clark said divisive politicians create opportunities for others to do the same. Story continues below ad “Now we’re watching the Conservative Party of Canada make its fight for the fringes play out to the ends of the political divide,” he said. “I think some days their rhetoric is just as bad or worse.” READ MORE: ‘You have allies’: Tory MPs welcome convoy figures warn of deep divisions in Canada Her comments come as party members have less than a month to vote to choose the next leader. The race, which began in February, was a fight for the party’s soul and future direction. The main contest was between longtime conservative MP Pierre Poilievre, who is running on a broad “liberty” campaign message, and former Quebec premier Jean Charest, who condemned the convoy as a violation of the rule of law. Of the 678,000 Conservative members eligible to vote in the race, the party says around 174,000 ballots have been returned before the September 6 deadline. Speaking Thursday, Clark said she recently received her ballot in the mail and will vote in the contest. “I think Jean Charest would be a fantastic prime minister,” he said. 0:33 Charest tells Conservative voters: ‘I can win a majority government’ Charest tells Conservative voters: ‘I can win a majority government’ – August 3, 2022 © 2022 The Canadian Press
