Danielle Smith returning to politics with sights on UCP leadership
CBC
Danielle Smith, former leader of the Wildrose Party, has confirmed to CBC News that she will run for the United Conservative Party nomination in the Livingstone-Macleod riding.
She also confirmed that she may take a run at the UCP leadership.
Premier Jason Kenney's hold on the party will be determined next month in a leadership review by mail-in ballot.
Smith is expected to make a formal announcement tomorrow morning.
The former Official Opposition leader left the Wildrose Party in 2014 when she crossed the floor to join Jim Prentice's ruling Progressive Conservatives. She brought with her eight members of the Wildrose Party.
At the time, she defended her decision, saying "to me, it's declaring victory and uniting conservatives under the leadership of one person so that we can deal with some very significant challenges ahead."
However, in 2015, she left politics after she lost her bid for the Progressive Conservative nomination in her riding of Highwood, to Carrie Fischer, who was on Okotoks' town council.
That same night, Brian Jean was elected as the new leader of the Wildrose Party.
Now, years later, both have expressed interest in becoming the leader of the UCP.
Since taking a break from politics, the former journalist has hosted a daily talk show on Corus Radio, which she left in January, and written a number of columns.
Smith is currently the president of the Alberta Enterprise Group.