Premier's office encouraged staff to downvote certain policy ideas ahead of UCP annual meeting, memo shows
CBC
The premier's office sent political staff written directions encouraging them to downvote certain policy ideas they didn't want on the final list for the United Conservative Party's annual general meeting, according to a memo provided to staff.
CBC News obtained a copy of it, which recommended specific resolutions to rank as low priority when party members were voting in August to pare down the list of which policy resolutions should make it to the debate floor at the convention.
Two sources confirmed the memo originated from staff in the premier's office. CBC News has agreed not to name them as they were unauthorized to speak about the matter.
"You are of course free to rank resolutions as you see fit. However, there are certain resolutions that are recommended for low ranking, often because they are largely redundant to other preferable resolutions or conflict with current ongoing government policy or communication initiatives," the memo reads.
Policies listed for lower ranking included introducing a provincial sales tax, relocalizing 911 dispatch, a moratorium on new coal exploration and development on the eastern slopes of the Rockies and creating a revenue-neutral Alberta carbon tax to replace the federal backstop.
Preliminary rounds of voting were conducted in August, as there were 86 proposed policy resolutions. The top 30 have been added to the debate agenda for this weekend's meeting.
Of 19 resolutions recommended for low ranking, 17 didn't make the final list. The two that did were about respecting doctors' rights to refuse procedures that go against their personal or religious beliefs and supporting an individual's right not to join a union.
"People who happen to work at the Legislature are often involved in party politics, and that is true of every party and government. This includes voting on resolutions at party conventions," the premier's office said in a statement.
"All members of the United Conservative Party are free to vote through secret ballot processes in the way that best reflects their priorities."
While the concept of governing parties whipping convention votes among staff isn't new, one analyst says it's strange to see it formalized and distributed.
"This is a dynamic that you see, but I'm not sure every party would be foolish enough to write it down," said University of Calgary political scientist Lisa Young.
"This is a party where the insiders are in disarray."
The premier said Thursday he wasn't aware of the memo, adding it's common for political staff to participate in the parties they belong to.
"It's hardly surprising that political staff on their personal time are involved in political matters," Jason Kenney said.
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