Toews and Schulz cancel on UCP leadership forum co-hosted by pro-independence group
CBC
Former finance minister Travis Toews and former minister of children's services Rebecca Schulz have backtracked and cancelled their participation in a United Conservative leadership forum co-hosted by a pro-independence group.
Toews's campaign co-chair told CBC News on Friday that Toews's team didn't realize what the Alberta Prosperity Project (APP) advocates for, though the first page of its website states: "The road to freedom and prosperity is through independence."
A Schulz spokeswoman confirmed to CBC News that she will also bail on the debate after having previously committed to attending.
The advocacy group is scheduled to host a leadership forum with several of the top candidates on Aug. 25 in Edmonton, co-hosted by Rebel News, a right-wing media group.
Danielle Smith, Brian Jean and Todd Loewen are also billed as participants. All three confirmed Friday they are participating in the event.
In a joint statement, Toews and Schulz said they were not attending because it's a fundraising event "in support of a third-party advocacy group that supports an independent Alberta."
They also expressed concern with a plan laid out on the APP's website they say would set up a competing political party with constituency associations.
"We hope other candidates reconsider their positions supporting separatism," added Toews and Schulz.
In a statement, APP's chief executive Dennis Modry said the decision by Toews and Shulz not to participate is a sign they "don't represent every Albertan."
"Their unwillingness to engage in political dialogue sends a message to thousands of APP members and Albertans who follow our organization," Modry wrote to CBC News.
"Political dialogue is a sign of a progressive society, and by not engaging, it is a clear indication that they don't care about every Albertan. It also shows they don't want to answer tough questions."
Chris Warkentin, co-chair of Toews's leadership bid, says his campaign was disappointed to learn that the APP was using the event to raise funds for itself. It's selling dinner tickets for $150 each, and $350 VIP tickets that offer special access to the candidates.
Information of the group's aims, and the ticket prices, were on the group's website and social media since early August, but Warkentin says it's only in recent days that Toews's organizers realized it.
Warkentin takes the blame.
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