Alberta Conservatives give Stelmach a vote of confidence

Alberta Premier Ed Stelmach reacts to winning his leadership review at the Alberta PC party's annual meeting in Red Deer.

Alberta Progressive Conservatives, Canada’s oldest reigning political dynasty, have handed their leader Premier Ed Stelmach a strong endorsement despite public opinion polls that show many Albertans aren’t impressed with him.

Mr. Stelmach received a vote of confidence from 77.4 per cent of PC delegates eligible to cast ballots during a mandatory leadership review. The result of the secret-ballot vote was announced to the cheers of more than 1,000 people on Saturday night at the close of the party’s annual party convention in Red Deer.

“I’m re-energized given the support here," Mr. Stelmach, 58, told reporters.

While the Premier may still be popular with party faithful, public opinion polls in recent months have found support for both him and the party is sinking.



In recent weeks, those polls and rising support for the Wildrose Alliance Party, a right-wing rival to the Tories, had some party members concerned Mr. Stelmach might receive a worse showing.

Ralph Klein, Mr. Stelmach’s predecessor, had told reporters he needed to hit at least 70 per cent to keep his job. Some political observers speculated Mr. Stelmach, a former farmer, would need to reach at least 80 per cent to fend off potential leadership rivals.

When Mr. Klein was premier, he routinely received party support well upwards of 90 per cent during similar leadership reviews.

However, in 2006, PC delegates showed him the door after handing him an embarrassingly low 55-per-cent support.

Shortly after tonight’s results were released, Alberta Liberal Leader David Swann released a statement slamming the vote as another sign of how out of touch with regular Albertans the Tories, which have governed the province since 1971, have become.

"If only the Premier had organized the H1N1 immunization program as well as he's orchestrated this vote," Mr. Swann said.

During the convention, which started on Friday, some delegates told Mr. Stelmach his government needed to better communicate its policies. Some even slammed the media, accusing reporters of not fairly reporting on government activity and hyping division within the Tory party.

“I really do feel that the policies we have are the right ones for Alberta, but it's difficult to get it through the present media that's available to us," Mr. Stelmach said, adding the government is planning to communicate more directly with Albertans using methods such as social media.

Mr. Stelmach would also not rule out a cabinet shuffle.

In recent months, Health Minister Ron Liepert has come under increased criticism, including his perceived mishandling of the province’s H1N1 vaccination program.

While the leadership vote was being held Saturday, more than 700 protesters gathered outside of the Red Deer hotel where delegates had gathered. Many belonged to unions. They were upset about the government’s health care reforms.

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