CALGARY – A Wildrose floor-crosser took to Facebook to shed some light on his actions a day after losing his nomination vote Saturday night.
Gary Bikman, who was running in Cardston-Taber-Warner, posted that crossing over to the Progressive Conservatives “seemed like the right thing to do.”
He said the floor-crossers had put “advancing the fiscal principles” of the Wildrose ahead of partisan politics and their own political futures, but said he believes it was a mistake.
“Denying you, our supporters, the opportunity of having a say in decisions that deeply affected you personally, turns out to have been a huge tactical error, in my opinion,” he wrote in the post.
“To you, our former supporters, we are cowards and traitors. Any attempts to explain what was happening inside the party or our fears our caucus would collapse are seen by you as excuses, not explanations.”
Bikman wrote their decision to “abandon ship” caused his nomination loss as well as the losses of Danielle Smith and Rod Fox; in addition to Bruce Rowe and Jason Hale’s decisions to retire.
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“Highwood & Alberta will be poorer without Danielle Smith in the Legislature. I’m sad for her, but sadder for the rest of the province.”
Bikman isn’t the only one feeling bad for Smith. Premier Jim Prentice shared his thoughts on Smith during a press conference Monday afternoon.
“Danielle Smith is a very talented woman, she has changed Alberta politics in the time she’s been here,” said Prentice. “I am concerned about some of what I’ve read in social media and in the media about Danielle. I don’t think it’s fair and I think we should respect people who’re in public life who’ve given a lot.”
“She made decisions; she stood by those decisions.”
READ MORE: Jim Prentice doesn’t like ‘piling on’ of Danielle Smith
Bikman wrote he feels no remorse or regret and looks forward to being a full-time grandpa.
“We changed Alberta for the better. We did make a difference….Thanks for the opportunity you gave me to serve. It was an honor.”
Read Bikman’s full Facebook post below:
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