CALGARY- One run at leadership of the PC party appears to have been enough for Jim Dinning.
The former provincial finance minister was the favourite to win the 2006 leadership race, but ended up losing to Ed Stelmach.
On Wednesday, Dinning wrote an op-ed in the Calgary Herald, stating he won’t throw his hat into the ring to replace former premier Alison Redford, and that the Tories need to change their sense of entitlement.
“Entitlement breeds and flourishes when governments and political parties forget who the boss really is,” he wrote. “Albertans are the boss. Party members are the leader’s boss. Period. PC MLAs, indeed all MLAs and all those who work for them, would do well to tape that reminder to the morning mirror.”
So far no one has declared their intention to run for the premier’s post, but current MLAs say they aren’t concerned.
“I’m sure everyone is pacing themselves, and every candidate will have a different threshold,” said Labour Minister Thomas Lukaszuk.
Political analysts believe Dinning’s criticism of the party could signal the end of the Tory reign in Alberta.
“He sees the PC dynasty going down in flames, a dynasty that he was a major part of,” says Duane Bratt from Mount Royal University. “A dynasty that he and Ralph Klein helped save in 1993 is now going to be over in two years.”
The leadership vote is scheduled for September.
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