Alberta Opposition leader open to merging with PCs, would run to be leader

Brian Jean (Pictured) says he has heard from his members that small-c conservatives must unite, but not if it means the party stops listening to and acting on the wishes of the grassroots. (Photo: Brian Jean/ Facebook)

EDMONTON –Alberta’s Wildrose Opposition leader has opened the door to uniting with the Progressive Conservatives to end more than a decade of infighting between the centre-right parties.

Brian Jean says he has heard from his members that small-c conservatives must unite, but not if it means the party stops listening to and acting on the wishes of the grassroots.

Jean says if the Progressive Conservatives want to merge, he’ll seek a mandate for such a merger.

He also says that if the Wildrose party voted to merge, he would step down and run in a leadership race this summer.

Jason Kenney is campaigning to be leader of the Progressive Conservatives on a pledge to merge the PCs and the Wildrose to create a new party.

Jean says any merger would have to be done under the Wildrose umbrella to keep the party’s rules and funding in place, but he would be open to a name change.