Independent MLA Peter Guthrie announced that he has taken over as leader of the Alberta Party. The former United Conservative Party (UCP) legislative member posted the news to the social media platform X on Tuesday evening. In July, Guthrie and fellow former UCP MLA Scott Sinclair both announced their intentions to join the Alberta Party after being removed from the sitting government caucus. Guthrie previously said members of the Alberta Party had voted largely in favour of rebranding to the Alberta Progressive Conservative Party. The move to rename was met with pushback from the UCP government, who filed a lawsuit against both MLAs and the then-president of the Alberta Party, Lindsay Amantea. The UCP claimed it held ownership of the Progressive Conservative name, brand and trademarks. Last week, the UCP tabled omnibus Bill 14, parts of which would limit the ability of new political parties to use similar names to existing legacy parties. The Progressive Conservative name had been part of the dominant Alberta conservative party that held government for more than four decades. The Progressive Conservatives merged with the Wildrose party to become the UCP in 2017. Guthrie’s announcement comes days ahead of the projected end of the fall legislature sitting.
