The Pollcast: What the Wildrose-PC merger vote means for Alberta politics - Action News
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PoliticsPODCAST

The Pollcast: What the Wildrose-PC merger vote means for Alberta politics

Alberta politics are at a crossroads as the Wildrose and Progressive Conservative parties decide whether or not to merge. Host ric Grenier is joined by pollster Janet Brown and the CBC's Kim Trynacity.

Host ric Grenier is joined by Alberta pollster Janet Brown and the CBC's Kim Trynacity

Wildrose Leader Brian Jean and Progressive Conservative Leader Jason Kenney are hoping the members of their respective parties will vote to unite Alberta's right on Saturday. (CBC)

The CBCPollcast, hosted by CBC poll analyst ric Grenier, explores the world of electoralpolitics,political polls and the trends they reveal.


The right is settovoteon whether to unite in Alberta.

The impact of that vote merging the Alberta Progressive Conservatives with Wildrose in order to take on the governing New Democrats in 2019 will be enormous, whether or not members of the two parties decide to come together.

Jason Kenney, who became leader of the PCs earlier this year on a platform of merging with Wildrose, is expected to have an easier timeaccomplishing his goal. The Progressive Conservatives have set a threshold of a simple majority to go ahead with the merger.

Wildrose, which under Brian Jean forms the official opposition in the Alberta legislature, has set a higher bar at 75 per cent. Jean also hascampaigned for the merger, but the result from a party originally formed by people opposed to the PCs is far less certain.

If the merger goes ahead, Kenney and Jean will be among the candidates running to lead what will be dubbed the United Conservative Party. But will all supporters of the two older parties stick with the new entity?

To discuss the potential outcomes of the merger vote and their consequences, Pollcast host ric Grenier is joined by Alberta pollster Janet Brown and the CBC's Kim Trynacity.

Listen to the full discussion above or subscribe to the CBCPollcast and listen to past episodes.

Follow ric Grenier, Janet Brown and Kim Trynacity on Twitter.