Pledging to bring his experience to build a competitive Alberta Liberal Party, Edmonton MLA Hugh MacDonald announced his plan to run for the party leadership this week.
MacDonald, who is in his fourth term in the legislature, announced Wednesday he wants to lead the Liberals, joining MLAs Raj Sherman and Laurie Blakeman in the race.
MacDonald said he has been encouraged to run for the job before, but with his children now grown he feels now is time to take the helm of the party.
“I have a lot more time and I know the commitment and the time that is necessary to do the job.”
As leader MacDonald said he would focus on rebuilding the party at the grassroots level to make it more competitive in elections.
“Where we are effectively organized and have strong constituency associations, we compete at election time,” he said. “And again, where we have well-funded, organized campaigns, run by the constituency associations, we compete.”
He said half of the party’s associations only exist on paper, and as leader he would make it a priority to invigorate them.
“Close to half of our registered constituency associations are essentially inactive and you start by encouraging people and getting them involved so that we can build a party together for the challenges of the next election.”
The local ridings are key to any political party.
“You just can’t realistically think that you can nominate a candidate and build a constituency association six weeks before a provincial election.”
MacDonald said his experience of being in the legislature for 14 years is one of the key reasons members should support him to steer the party.
“I have had political success, both inside and outside the legislative assembly. I have successfully weathered a lot of electoral battles.”
MacDonald isn’t worried by the emergence of new parties like the Wildrose Alliance and Alberta Party.
“The Alberta Party doesn’t even show in the polls. They may be on the Internet, but they are certainly not in the minds of the Albertans who are polled.”
He said the PC government has simply lost touch with the people it serves.
“They are looking after the interests of a few and they are not looking after the public interest.”
MacDonald said he plans to release a series of policies over the summer about how he would govern the province, but added ideas have never been in short supply.
“The stabilization fund was an Alberta Liberal Party idea that this government adopted and thank goodness they did, because that is the money we are using to tide us over.”
On the often-debated issue of changing the party’s name, MacDonald said he is completely uninterested in any change.
“The Alberta Liberal Party has had a very positive contribution in the past to the politics of this province and I am confident if we do the work we will have a future as well,” he said. “I have no interest in a name change whatsoever, that is not our problem.”
