CALGARY — The Alberta Liberals are asking moderates of all political stripes to work with them to wrestle power away from the long-reigning Tories.
Leader David Swann says with the rise of the right-wing Wildrose Alliance party, Premier Ed Stelmach’s Conservatives are vulnerable.
But he says it will take many from the left and centre of the political spectrum working together to defeat the Tories.
“Vote splitting in a system that’s first past the post, where all the advantages and money is in the Conservatives, is a recipe for disaster, it’s a recipe for continuing the same-old, same-old,” he says.
“Divided we fall, as they say.”
Swann says he’s reaching out to members of the NDP and former Alberta Green Party candidates, as well as progressive Tories and some other smaller political groups.
He has gotten feedback from a number of people, but not any party leaders yet.
“I think there’s a real opening here, and we have to lead on it.”
The Liberals ran advertisements in major Alberta newspapers asking for “other progressive political parties” to work with them.
Swann says he isn’t sure what form the co-operation could take said he’s considering all options.
He won’t rule out a merger with another political party or a Liberal name change, but notes that any major decisions would be voted on by Liberal members.
“I’m not setting any conditions on this, I’m simply saying it’s time we talked.”