Since Alberta’s ruling United Conservative Party (UCP) began its search for a new leader – and premier of Alberta – the party’s membership has doubled.
In June, the UCP had about 60,000 members. To date, this number is 123,915.
During the same period, the party also collected nearly $1 million in dues.
For party chairwoman Cynthia Moore, the increase is a testament to the UCP’s popularity and has positive implications for the party heading into an election year.
“Alberta’s Conservative movement is incredibly strong, and these numbers prove it,” Moore said in a statement.
“We have seen massive growth in every riding in the province and that has put us on a solid footing heading into the next election.”
Even if party organizers are encouraged by the numbers, it still means that only a fraction of eligible Albertans – around 3.5% – could determine who becomes the next premier before the general election in May.
According to Lori Williams, an associate professor at Mount Royal University, many of those who joined did so to influence the outcome of the upcoming election.
“Despite more than doubling the number of members and generating associated fees and contact details, many may have joined only because they wanted a hand in choosing the next Prime Minister – or trying to block their least desired choice,” said said Williams.
“It sounds like the ‘Two-Minute Tories’ we saw join the Progressive Conservatives in 2011 that resulted in Alison Redford winning.”
The deadline to join or renew a membership was August 12.
Ballots to the 123,915 eligible members will be mailed beginning Sept. 2 and must be returned to the accounting firm overseeing the vote by Oct. 3 at 5 p.m.
The results will be announced on October 6 at an event held at the BMO Center in Calgary.
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