Calgary-Greenway byelection: Alberta Party still seeking 'strong local' candidate

The Alberta Party will only run a candidate in the byelection for Calgary-Greenway next month if a strong local one can be found, its leader says.

Greg Clark says party officials will be meeting to discuss whether a candidate will be nominated in time for the March 22 vote.

The northeast Calgary riding was left vacant whenpopularTory MLAManmeetBhullarwas killed in a highway collision in November.

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"What's really important in any constituency is that we have a good strong local candidate who would be a great representative if elected as MLA," he said.

"If we have a strong local candidate, we'll run enthusiastically. But it's most important that we have someone that could represent that community.When you have a tragic situation of losing someone like Manmeet Bhullar it's a special case here in this constituency."

Clark made the comments at a pub in Airdrie Thursday night where he was hosting a discussion session about his party's policies.

The Progressive Conservative Party is now holding a nomination contest after first skipping the process and appointing Prabhdeep Gill.

Interim leader Ric McIver said on Wednesday the party reversed course after many people in the local constituency complained.

The NDP hasalready selected itscandidate,Roop Rai.

TheWildrose Partyplans to hold itsnominationon Friday, rescheduledfrom anoriginal meetingdate ofMarch 5.

The Green Party'scandidate isThanaBoonlert and theLiberals are running Khalil Karbani.