Leadership Convention Agenda & Voting Information

WILDROSE ALLIANCE LEADERSHIP CONVENTION

Saturday, October 17th, 2009
Holiday Inn Convention Centre
4520 76TH AVE Edmonton
Hotel Front Desk: 1-780-468-5400

Registration open to members and nonmembers for $30,
by pre-registration or at venue. Accredited media ~ free.


8 a.m.
Registration opens

9 a.m.
Welcome by party President Jeff Callaway
Speeches by both candidates

10 a.m.
Concurrent sessions:
Campaigning – Richard Dur, campaign manager Calgary Glenmore (1 hr – members only)
Panel Discussion on constituency-building (1 hr – members only)
Social media – Ken Chapman, Cambridge Strategies Inc (2 hrs – members and nonmembers)

NOON
Leadership poll closes
Lunch served
Speech by outgoing Wildrose Alliance leader Paul Hinman, MLA Calgary Glenmore

1 p.m.
Health policy – Nadeem Esmail, Fraser Institute

Between 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.
Announcement of the vote
Concession speech
Acceptance speech
Closing comments, Jeff Callaway
Media scrum

We expect this event to be finished by 5 p.m. or before, depending on the time required to verify and count ballots.

~~~~~~~~~~

Reminder if you have not yet returned your ballot you still have time with these options.

In Calgary you can drop them off at our office (address below). We will be open 9 AM to 9 PM on Thursday and from 9 AM to 5 PM on Friday.

In Edmonton you can drop them off at the front desk of the Holiday Inn Convention Centre (address above) until Friday. On Saturday they can be placed right in the ballot box at the convention.

If you are not close to either Edmonton or Calgary the Leadership Candidates have each organized volunteers across the province to act as drop off locations and they will deliver your ballot to the convention.

Here are the links to each of their sites.

Drop off locations organized by Danielle Smith campaign.

Drop off locations organized by Mark Dyrholm campaign.

For all ballot inquiries please email me.

Regards,
Jane Morgan,
Executive Director

Wildrose Alliance Party
#3, 1303 - 44 Ave NE
Calgary, AB T2E 6L5

Toll free: 1-888-262-1888
Phone: (403) 769-0999
Fax: 1-866-620-4791

Wildrose Alliance Membership Zooms Past 11,000 as Leadership Vote Nears

I think this is a first; posting a press release that I am quoted in. Sort of like speaking of ones' self in the third person.

For Immediate Release

Calgary – October 4, 2009 – The Wildrose Alliance Party announced today its final membership numbers heading into the highly anticipated leadership convention in Edmonton later this month.

Wildrose Alliance Party Executive Director Jane Morgan says the party now has 11,670 paid memberships, a huge increase over the approximately 1,800 members at the time of the party’s annual general meeting in June of this year. For further comparison, the Wildrose Alliance Party membership at this time a year ago stood at approximately 1000.

"I am incredibly pleased with the influx of members, especially the number who want to become active and help us continue to grow," says Morgan. "If we can accomplish this amount of growth in just four months, imagine what we can do with 83 active constituencies and a full time leader touring the province."

Interest in the party has grown spectacularly since its formation in early 2008, not only because of the exciting leadership race between Mark Dyrholm and Danielle Smith, but also because of the party’s by-election victory in Calgary-Glenmore last month. In that race, interim Wildrose Alliance Party leader Paul Hinman defeated a longtime PC activist and Calgary Alderman to earn the party its first seat in the legislature, a seat held for four decades by the PC’s, who finished a distant third this time.

“It appears that Albertans by the thousands are hearing our message of common sense conservatism,” said Calgary-Glenmore MLA-elect Hinman, “And are lining up not only to help build our party but to send Ed Stelmach a message that it’s past time to rebuild the Alberta Advantage.” Hinman says he looks forward to working in partnership with our new leader to grow the party and continue to expand our membership across the province.

The Leadership Convention will be held on Saturday, October 17 at the Holiday Inn Convention Centre, 4520 - 76 Ave., Edmonton.

All Wildrose Alliance Party members in good standing by October 2, 2009 are eligible to vote in the leadership election, either at the convention itself or by mail-in ballots which are now being received by members all across Alberta.

-30-

For more information contact:
Jane Morgan,
Executive Director,
Wildrose Alliance Party
403.680.8683

Cat's out of the bag....more ballots have been ordered.

Paul Hinman is obviously very excited these days; not only because of his incredible win in Calgary - Glenmore, but about our incredible growth. Looks like Paul has let some details on our numbers slip in this interview. 

We will be releasing the exact number of ballots mailed for our Leadership Race next week. This will reflect the total number of members as of midnight October 2nd.

I previously shared with you that at the beginning of September we ordered 10,000 ballots. They are being sent out in three batches. Approximately one third were mailed out Thursday, Sept. 24th; another third will go out this Friday, Oct. 2nd.

The last batch will go out Monday October 5th. This will include all memberships sold between September 25 and October 2nd. Based on the momentum we have going our initial estimate of 10K may have been a little shy; so this week we ordered another 5000 to insure we have enough to cover the demand.

Memberships continue to flood in via mail, fax, phone and of course online. Heather and I have been working long hours and as have the two new staff we hired this week. We have also had some great volunteers who are answering our phones, returning calls and completing data entry.  This weekend will be dedicated to the labeling of the final batch to get it mailed out by Monday.

We're bbaacckkkkk

By now most of you likely know Paul Hinman is the MLA elect for Calgary – Glenmore and will be heading back to serve in the Legislature. It was an exciting evening as we watched the results being posted on Elections Alberta’s website. And poll after poll Paul was ahead.


Today, reading some of the articles, I had to chuckle a little bit as they reported it as a “slim win” with Paul squeaking past the second place Liberal by 276 votes. Given Paul first won Cardston-Taber-Warner by 139 (2004), then lost it by 39 (2008); a spread of 276 is certainly more comfortable.

The Liberals did not really change their base in Glenmore; it has been in the mid-30’s (percentage) in 2004, 2008 & now 2009. The PC’s on the other hand have taken a huge hit, dropping from 50% down to 25%.

What I found odd last night is that we learned of the other candidates conceding defeat through rather odd means. First was Diane Colley-Urquhart (PC) who “Tweeted” congratulations to Paul; then we learned of Avalon Roberts (Lib) conceding defeat via a “Tweet” from the Calgary Herald. What happened to picking up the phone and making a call to the winning candidate?

Anyway, glad the campaigning is over; please see my previous post for election thank-you. Now we can start concentrating on our other upcoming activities.

Namely the Leadership forums;

September 16, 7:30pm, Calgary
Blackfoot Inn

5940 Blackfoot Trail SE



September 17, 7:30pm, Lethbridge
Balog Cow Palace

Just south of highway #4 on the east side of Lethbridge


Please arrive early to avoid disappointment; space is limited. Memberships will be sold at both, but it is not a requirement to attend.

Audio from the Edmonton forum is available on the party website; scroll down left column to “Listen: Leadership Forum”.

Calgary Glenmore By-election Night Celebration

The Calgary Glenmore by-election night celebration with Paul Hinman will be at:

Carriage House Inn
Victoria Room

9030 MacLeod Trail South

8:00 PM and onward

By-election thank-yous and Leadership ballots

It seems the busy times in our office our never ending. Once again I find myself very thankful for the skills and dedication of Heather, our Office Administrator.


Events of the past week included two Leadership Candidate forums (Grande Prairie & Edmonton) and an all candidates debate in Calgary Glenmore. This coming week will bring two more Leadership Candidate forums (Calgary & Lethbridge) and of course tomorrow is voting day in Calgary Glenmore. With all this on the go Heather is still happily processing new memberships and putting the finishing touches on the Leadership ballot mail out. I will get back to this in a moment.

First I would like everyone to join me in congratulating Paul Hinman on his amazing dedication and his tireless work in Calgary Glenmore. He has covered a lot of turf and only missed one day of campaigning (to attend a funeral of a family member). I believe it will be a tight three-way race and it is incredibly difficult to make any predictions.

Special thanks to RD, Julie and Mick; they have been with Paul every step of the way. To the sign crew; Cory, Jamie, Derrick, Doug, Mike S, Chris and many others. To the office crew; Matt, Travis, Chantal and countless others who passed through the doors. To Blaine Maller who graciously let us use his office until we finally found space in the constituency. To all the financial contributors which allowed us to run an amazing campaign.

I am looking forward to Monday night’s results. I am quite confident Paul will have a very strong showing and am of course hopeful that he will once again take a seat in the Legislature.

Our office will be closed on Monday (September 14) to allow all staff to take part in Election Day events. After that we will be back, going full steam ahead towards the Leadership Convention. Late this week we will take delivery of the ballots. Based on our current membership numbers and projected sales between now and October 2nd we have ordered 10,000 ballot packages. (One ballot per package)

Ballots will be first mailed to members in our common database and lastly to members in the candidates' databases. If you have not yet joined I highly recommend you do it sooner rather than wait until the deadline of October 2nd to avoid potential mail delays and disappointment.

Not Worth the Paper It's Written on...

Press release from party;

For Immediate Release

The Stelmach PC’s, (Pick and Choose), have announced they are going to unilaterally break the contract they have with the teachers they signed just over a year ago. At the same time, they choose to deliver a golden parachute severance to one former Health Board Executive at the expense of an ailing health system. (Incidentally, the total cost of the severance pay is approximately equivalent to the cost to operate a laser prostate machine for 8 years.)

This is but another example of the PC’s picking and choosing winners and losers. They signed a contract with the Teachers. They broke that: losers. They had contracts with the energy industry. They broke those: losers. They promised to get spending under control every budget. They increased spending every budget. They campaigned on transparency and accountability. Then they gave themselves pay raises and golden parachutes: winners.

Paul Hinman commented “These are examples in the trail of bread crumbs towards the house of deception. When are they going to break the contracts of the nurses? Albertans believe in handshake deals and that someone’s word is their bond. It seems for Premier Stelmach and his government a contract doesn’t mean anything unless you are a PC, (politically connected). Albertans need the right to recall their MLA’s when they fail to work for the people they were elected to represent. It’s time to Send Ed a Message. Breaking contracts is not part of the Alberta Advantage.”

The Wildrose Alliance believes in respecting contract law. The Party believes in allowing voters the ability to recall their elected representatives when they start representing themselves rather than the people that elected them.

Remember Guy Boutilier?

August 28, 2009

Remember Guy Boutilier?

For Immediate Release

Calgary-Glenmore residents need to remember what happened to the last PC MLA who tried to speak publically and passionately about the needs of their constituents.

Though Diane Colley-Urquhart’s musings about revisiting the question of health care premiums are surely well intentioned, would Premier Ed Stelmach tolerate such outspokenness from her in the legislature? Particularly when she speaks out against her own government’s policy?

Remember Guy Boutilier? Today Paul Hinman remarked; “Sometimes people at the doors tell me they really like Diane but can’t vote for her because she would get “Boutiliered” and it would send Ed the wrong message” Guy Boutilier is a long serving MLA representing Fort McMurray-Wood Buffalo, a former cabinet Minister, and mayor of Fort McMurray and now a former Progressive Conservative MLA.

Guy was punted from the PC Caucus for calling out the Premier on a broken promise to build a long term care facility in the constituency of Fort McMurray-Wood Buffalo. The Premier and Health Minister broke that promise and when confronted publically, the Premier disciplined his PC MLA for speaking up for his constituents.

Calgary-Glenmore constituents could understandably be suspicious whether another PC MLA (there's 70 already) would result in a different course of treatment, and with polls indicating a 12% drop in the likely PC vote, a Wildrose Alliance surge of support, and approximately 25% undecided voters, it seems Calgary Glenmore constituents indeed are gathering behind Paul Hinman and are ready to send Premier Stelmach a message.

Paul Hinman said, “This by-election isn’t about whether Diane Colley-Urquhart would make a good MLA or not, it’s about not wasting the opportunity to send Ed a message. Elected representatives have to be able to openly and publicly represent their constituents and that means they must be able to openly and publically speak out against bad government policy”

Paul Hinman, Wildrose Alliance Interim party leader and candidate in the Calgary-Glenmore by-Election.

For more info contact the Paul Hinman Campaign:
Phone: 403.252.5550
Fax: 403.984-3622
Email: sendedamessage@gmail.com
http://www.sendedamessage.ca/

Wildrose Alliance Party has momentum in Calgary Glenmore by-election

Thursday August 27, 2009

For Immediate Release

In a Dycap Research poll commissioned by the Paul Hinman campaign, it has been found that voters in Calgary Glenmore are preparing to send Premier Ed Stelmach a message.

When asked on August 26th “If the upcoming provincial by-election in Calgary Glenmore were held today, which provincial party would you vote for?” 19 % of respondents selected the Wildrose Alliance party, a 7% increase from a poll commissioned in late June.

Conversely, Ed Stelmach’s Progressive Conservative Party dropped 12% in voter preference while the number of voters indicating “Undecided” grew from 18% to 23%.

The growth in support for the Wildrose Alliance Party has been most evident at the doors in Calgary Glenmore.

“Every day I am meeting people who were lifelong supporters of the PC party who are now embracing the Wildrose Alliance Party as the common sense alternative to the Stelmach government” said Paul Hinman. “A common message I am hearing while at the doors is people saying “I am not abandoning the PC party, the PC party with Ed at the helm has abandoned me.”.”


With weeks left in the campaign it is clear that voters are ready to Send Ed a Message on voting day Monday, September 14th.

For more info contact the Paul Hinman Campaign:

Phone: 403.252.5550
Fax: 403.984.3622
Email: sendedamessage@gmail.com

Notes from Paul Hinman Calgary Glenmore Campaign

I have recieved the following from Paul's volunteer coordinator.

We are pleased to announce that we have settled into our new campaign office at 208, 8408 Elbow Dr. SW; on the southeast corner of Elbow Drive and Heritage Drive. There is underground parking and additional parking across the street. Feel free to drop by for a visit.

Our literature drop last Saturday was a great success, so great in fact that we have decided to distribute another piece and do it all over again this Saturday, August 29th at the office starting at 10 AM.

The campaign has been going very well thanks to the great effort of many volunteers. I hope you will join our team and I look forward to you joining our team!

We have been very busy and could use additional volunteers for the following tasks:

- Outbound calling, various shifts from 1 PM to 9 PM

- Reception (incoming calls), evenings and Saturdays.

- Sign placement, best to have a vehicle for this task.

If you can help in any of these areas call me at 403-252-5550 or simply drop by the office.

On Tuesday and Thursday mornings from 8 AM to 10 AM Paul will be in attendance. Let's put our best effort forward to "send Ed a message"!!!

~Julie Huston

Volunteer Coordinator
Calgary/Glenmore

Paul Hinman, Calgary Glenmore Kick-off a HUGE success.

It was a beautiful day in Calgary; perfect for the first large volunteer effort on Paul Hinmans campaign. We met at 10:00 AM and the workers were eager to go. We managed to snap this picture of the first 35 volunteers.

By 10:15 they had their packages and spread out like busy ants throughout the constituency. CTV stopped by to do a quick interview with Paul and then he was on his way too.

By 11:00 AM we had late arrivals signed in, along with another half dozen from each the Mark Dyrholm and Danielle Smith campaigns. Bringing our confirmed number to 55!!

With so many hands we covered all the targeted areas without having to over work any of your dedicated members. We reconvened at the Boston Pizza at Southland Drive and 24 St.SW.



The management welcomed us with great hospitality and the staff did an amazing job creating a vast selection of their finest pizzas. The food was delicious and was perfect for those who had worked up an appetite.



All in all, it was a great day, it went smoothly, we accomplished our goal; it was a HUGE success.

A big THANK YOU to everyone who came out.

In the coming days I will be posting an invite to visit at our campaign headquarters. For more information you can also visit Pauls website.

Calgary - Glenmore kick off and flyer drop

It has been a busy first week down at Paul Hinman's (temporary) campaign office. They have now located a location in the constituency for the duration of the campaign. I will keep you posted once everyone is settled in, then you can drop by to say HI.

Meanwhile I must say a huge thank you to the sign crew. These volunteers have been run off their feet this week. The sign requests have been coming in fast and furious since Monday, so much so that our six man crew called in extra recruits today. Today we also took delivery of another 400 lawn signs and more of other two sizes as well.

Tomorrow, Saturday the 22nd we will be having a kick off and doing flyer drop.

"Sending Ed Stelmach a message; one mailbox at a time."

We will be meeting on the south side of the Coop parking
lot on Southland Drive and 24 St. SW at 10:00 AM.

Just look for the campaign truck.

It looks like it will be a great sunny day to be out in the beautiful communities in Calgary - Glenmore. We will have water on hand to keep you refreshed and one of our leadership candidates has also confirmed they will attend.

Feel free to show up tomorrow or if you would like to help a later date, send an email to volunteer@wildrosealliance.ca

Paul Hinman Calgary-Glenmore by-election campaign

Just a quick note to list some contact info for Paul's campaign.

Campaign office phone # 403-252-5550

Email: sendedamessage@gmail.com

Fax: 403-252-7750

Mailing address:
Paul Hinman Campaign
Box 72129
Glenmore Landing, SW
Calgary, Alberta
T2V 5H9


Website: www.sendedamessage.ca

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#/group.php?gid=211331340051&ref=ts

To volunteer, contribute or to obtain a lawn sign, you can contact his team through the campaign website or contact us at head office.

Calgary - Glenmore by-election; Send Ed a Message

August 17, 2009

Send Ed A Message!

For Immediate Release

Interim Leader Paul Hinman of the Wildrose Alliance is running for the Calgary Glenmore bye-election set for September 14, 2009. The Party views this as a chance for Calgarians to Send Ed a Message that they are unhappy with Premier Stelmach's mismanagement of the Alberta economy, multi-billion dollar deficits, bungled centralization and delivery of health care, and muzzled MLA's who are not allowed to speak up for their constituents.

Paul Hinman commented, "I've been knocking on doors and attending events in Calgary Glenmore since the spring and it has been great connecting with old friends as this was where I grew up. What I'm hearing is a lot of discontent over economic mismanagement leading to multi-billion deficits. People are upset with the wait times for health care and the centralization of power and decision making with the Super Board. At the doors, constituents have expressed their concern with Ed's heavy hand threatening disciplinary action on health care workers and MLA's if they speak out about concerns to the public or media. There’s an appetite for change and I firmly believe the Wildrose Alliance can bring back the Alberta Advantage with our positive agenda!"

The Wildrose Alliance has been engaging Albertans to help shape the future of the Province. The party has held town halls and community meetings across the Province to hear what Albertans have to say, focused the policy base, and is currently engaged in a Leadership race to determine the new Leader of the Party. The party has gained several thousand new members this year and established numerous new Constituency Associations.


FOR MORE INFORMATION:

Paul Hinman
Interim Leader
Wildrose Alliance
403-479-6000

info@wildrosealliance.ca

“How are things going with the Wildrose?”

I get this question or a variation of it several times a week and I never know where to begin.

Things are going well on so many fronts.

Our leadership candidates are out there promoting us; Paul Hinman is pounding the pavement in Calgary – Glenmore, constituency associations are being formed almost weekly now, our membership has quadrupled since the beginning of the year, we are getting very positive press, our bank account is healthy and so on.

Last weekend we successfully and smoothly moved our website to a new server. This was done as we needed increased capacity. Earlier this week we added a new phone number to accommodate the increase in calls. The new number is 403-769-0999; the old one will still work too. The toll free line remains the same 1-888-262-1888. Later this month we will be welcoming an Office Administrator (this is a new position).

The growth pains have been minimal, despite our President Jeff Callaway, saying I gripe about it; the reality is I absolutely love the increased activity and attention we are receiving.

So, yes, thing are going VERY well.

The only Stability is Instability for the Stelmach PCs

For Immediate Release

The Stelmach government continues to fiddle with investment rules and a Global Investment Survey revealed Alberta to be an uncompetitive place to do business. This ranking encompasses the reasons behind the lower levels of economic activity, building permits, and employment rates. Meanwhile, his MLA’s and Ministers that should be primarily responsible for reversing these trends seem focused on ill-advised parenting advice and bikini car washes.

A Global Petroleum Survey yesterday announced Alberta ranks 92 out of 143 jurisdictions and dead last of the Provinces in Canada. Premier Stelmach announced an extension of a royalty incentive plan for one year, previously announced in the spring. Unfortunately, the original proposal hasn’t helped drilling rates as evidenced by the historically low drilling levels that continue. In fact, less than 10% of rigs available are working in Alberta right now which is a multi-year low. Further, land sales in the Province total just over $100 million this year versus the almost $3.5 billion in 2006 and $178 million just last week in BC. Land acquisition is the ultimate leading indicator of future activity for without the land to drill upon, there is no drilling. With no drilling, the impact of these incentives is small. The NRF also takes away alot of the cash flow from current wells that would have been able to finance future drilling.

Interim Leader Paul Hinman commented “For the first time in memory Alberta is losing people to Saskatchewan, a province that under Premier Brad Wall is experiencing economic surplus while Alberta under Premier Ed Stelmach is experiencing economic deficits. This isn't market failure. This is government failure!”

“This is another revision of their New Royalty Framework and I don’t think I have enough fingers to count the number of revisions.” Mr. Hinman continued, “Albertans and industry need some form of certainty in planning their future and the Stelmach PC’s only provide instability. I’m looking forward to the bye-election campaign in Calgary Glenmore where Albertans will have the chance to send Ed a message!”

The Wildrose Alliance calls for the cancellation of the NRF and to bring back the former Royalty Framework that led to over-flowing government coffers rather than empty cupboards. The old system provided healthy employment levels where anyone who wanted a job could get a job. The stability of the former Royalty Framework brought billions of dollars of investment into the Province. Alberta truly had an advantage with low taxes, fully funded health care and education, a strong economy, and cared for its’ seniors.

FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Paul Hinman
Interim Leader
Wildrose Alliance
Phone: 403 479-6000

info@wildrosealliance.ca

"Send Ed a Message"

For Immediate Release

It was officially announced that Paul Hinman will represent the Wildrose Alliance Party in the upcoming Calgary Glenmore by-election, at a packed house rally in the Haysboro community hall last night.

"The turn out exceeded expectations, with almost 100 people in attendance", said constituency president Mike Miles. "The main topics discussed were Alberta's mismanaged health care system and its economy".

Paul Hinman championed those concerns, by stating "for the first time in memory, Alberta is losing people to Saskatchewan, a province that under Premier Brad Wall is experiencing record economic surplus while Alberta, under Ed Stelmach, is experiencing economic deficits. This isn't market failure. This is government failure. And it's Alberta's government, with Ed Stelmach at the helm, that has failed us".

He also went on to say that, "although, it took Ed 25 million dollars to get rid of Alberta's slogan 'the Alberta Advantage', in reality, it's Ed's 4.5 BILLION dollars of deficit spending, and his deteriorating health care management that has eliminated the Alberta advantage, and it will take the support of the Wildrose Alliance to get it back".

The party believes that Paul Hinman's prior experience as an MLA, and the benefit of growing up in the community of Haysboro he will definitely provide the people of Calgary-Glenmore a strong voice in the Legislature, and the opportunity to "Send Ed a Message".

info@wildrosealliance.ca

More venues confirmed....

Next week's circuit of Taber, Brooks and Strathmore now have confirmed venues, as follows:

May 19 – Tuesday – Taber
Heritage Inn,
4830 - 46 Avenue, HWY #3
Taber
7:00 PM

May 20 – Wednesday – Brooks
Heritage Inn,
1217 - 2 Street West
Brooks
7:00 PM

May 21 – Thursday – Strathmore
Nightingale Community Hall
Nightingale (5 minutes north of Strathmore)
7:00 PM


... Don't forget this week we will be in Medicine Hat and Lethbridge;

May 13 – Wednesday – Medicine Hat
Medicine Hat Lodge
1051 Ross Glen Drive, SE
7:00 PM

May 14 – Thursday – Lethbridge
Lethbridge Lodge
320 Scenic Drive South
7:00 PM

Clarification of my remarks

Some media outlets today are reporting on the resignation of Paul Hinman. They are taking remarks that I made in respect to feedback from a segment of our members and making it appear as though I shared those thoughts.

They are using phrases like; “despite criticism from the Alliance's executive director” or “... the party's executive director publicly questioned whether Hinman had the "charisma" to attract ....”

I would like to make it clear, I (personally) have never questioned Paul’s ability as a leader nor criticized him. My comments were strictly giving an answer to “What are you hearing from members" and were taken out of context.

I support Paul as our leader and have a great deal of respect for him personally. I look forward to joining Paul on the road this week in Edmonton and Red Deer at our scheduled Town Halls.

Paul Hinman's Leadership Sets Stage for Wildrose Alliance's Growth

Paul Hinman's Leadership
Sets Stage for Wildrose Alliance's Growth

For Immediate Release

Wildrose Alliance Party leader Paul Hinman has advised the party executive of his intention to step down as leader at the upcoming Annual General Meeting scheduled for June 5 and 6, 2009, in Calgary.

"Mr. Hinman has been a driving force in creating a new political alternative for Albertans," says Wildrose Party President Jeff Callaway. "His tireless determination to create a voice for Albertans who question the policies of the Stelmach PC party has sparked growing interest in the Wildrose Alliance."

Paul Hinman’s commitment to providing Alberta with a new political option that is attractive to the majority of Albertans involves more than policy and merely criticizing the government. It includes leadership with vision and communication, and to help ensure the continued growth of the Party, Mr Hinman wants to ensure that the Wildrose Alliance is led by the most capable, energetic, and qualified person possible. "To demonstrate his commitment," says Callaway, "Paul will step down at the AGM and open up the leadership of the Party to what we hope will be a robust race."

Paul Hinman says of his decision " Our Party's strong growth in the past year tells me now is the time to further that growth with a leadership race. This will help the Wildrose Alliance harness this remarkable groundswell and give the most people possible the opportunity to participate." Hinman encourages other interested parties to enter the Leadership race and "Together we will build the Party. The interest in the Wildrose Alliance as a viable political alternative to the existing government has been growing fast and has come from a diverse group of people from different regions and economic segments of Alberta who want to get involved."
"I am accountable to Albertans and our party members and I believe this is the best decision for our party and ultimately for our province," Hinman says. "I extend the greatest appreciation to those who have supported our party and myself in the past. Be assured I will continue to work with the Wildrose Alliance and Albertans in whatever capacity I can to make the greatest possible contribution to restore the Alberta Advantage and prosperity to the people of Alberta."

Commenting on the future of Alberta, Paul Hinman continued "The government must rein in its spending and bureaucratic growth while stimulating the economy through the reduction of taxes and red tape. It needs to be accountable and display the type of integrity that will restore the confidence of investors and businesses. Protecting the freedom of choice and competition balanced with a regulated free market economy encourages the creative and entrepreneurial people and businesses of Alberta." Regarding our health care and educational systems and Senior Citizens, Hinman says "The focus should be on service, not on management as it currently is. While concentrating on all of the above near-term, the long-term future must be protected through proper stewardship of the environment and our natural resources."

"Paul Hinman has demonstrated his commitment and service to the people of Alberta and the Wildrose Alliance," President Jeff Callaway stated, "And I know he remains committed to each going forward. I view his decision as the act of a selfless Leader and he deserves the thanks and respect of the Party. In whatever leadership role Paul assumes with the Party, the Wildrose Alliance will benefit from his experience and guidance. The Board, Executive Director and myself look forward to working with Paul as together we build the Party."