Trouble brewing within Wildrose, but all smiles for NDP

NDP enters convention on a high note Rahim Ladhani reports on the NDP convention at a time when questions have surfaced surrounding the leadership of the Wildrose party

As the Alberta NDP heads into its annual meeting in Calgary this weekend, Premier Rachel Notley is confident she has the support of her members, but things aren’t as rosy for the Wildrose.

Notley will be meeting with her party members at the Hyatt Regency in Calgary over the weekend. She will be undergoing a leadership review, but most members say they fully support her as leader.

For Brian Jean of the Wildrose, it seems like there are more challenges ahead.

Jean has had to deal with a number of personal issues and controversy within the party recently.

He lost his home in the Fort McMurray wildfire and has also had to wrestle with questions over the brief suspension of finance critic Derek Fildebrandt.

Now, one Alberta constituency association is calling for a leadership review at the party’s AGM, scheduled in October.

Members of Lac La Biche-St. Paul-Two Hills are seeking an amendment to the party’s constitution which would allow leadership reviews to be held every year.

In response to the request, Jean released a brief statement on Thursday.

“I’m not surprised there are some members who are uncomfortable with setting a bold new vision for the Wildrose.”

Jean became leader of the party in March 2015, taking over from Danielle Smith.

He received 78 percent support in last year’s leadership review.