Red Deer’s hotels and restaurants were gearing up for what could have been a very good weekend soon with thousands of UCP members expected to travel to Red Deer for a vote on Premier Jason Kenney’s leadership.
However, the expected rush will not be happening after the party decided on Wednesday to go to mail-in ballots instead of the in-person voting originally planned for April 9.
UCP president Cynthia Moore cited the unexpected surge of people signing up to vote — more than 15,000 at last count — led to the decision to go to mail-in ballots so every member could have their say.
Tourism Red Deer executive director Rene Rondeau said the cancellation of the event, which was to be held at the Cambridge Red Deer Hotel and Conference Centre, will obviously disappoint those in the local hospitality industry.
“They’ve been waiting for something to be able to wrap their hands around and do well at and bring some money here.
“20,000 people in one day and perhaps an overnight stay would have brought wonders to this place.”
“It’s a tough one coming off the World Juniors and things like that but we have to respect the decisions that are made and move forward.”
Rondeau said perhaps some of those voters who had Red Deer in their plans may choose to come and check out the community anyway.
Red Deer-South MLA Jason Stephan had strongly encouraged party members to participate in the leadership vote in a video he posted on his Facebook page on March 11 shot at the Cambridge Hotel.
“There will be a provincial election in 2023 yet our party finds itself divided and under-performing in the polls. We should always seek to put our best foot forward and this review allows members of the party the option to change leader before the upcoming election.”
When reached for comment on Wednesday, one of Stephan’s staff said the MLA was working on a statement to be released on Thursday.
Kenney rival Brian Jean condemned the change in voting format.
“The UCP Board’s decision to do this Leadership Review Vote completely outside of the party’s rules is a travesty,” he said in a statement posted on Facebook.
Jean also accused Kenney organizers of signing up thousands of new members who did not have to pay their membership fee or allegedly had their fee paid for by Kenney’s camp.
“We will be calling on the vote auditor to review every membership added to the list in the last month to confirm that those memberships were bought consistent with the party rules and the law.”