EDMONTON – Former Wildrose MLA Joe Anglin says he’s heard of four more Wildrose MLAs who are thinking about leaving the party.
“I know of four,” he said on Tuesday. “I know of four that are actually sitting right on the fence thinking about it… That’s in addition to the three that have already left.”
“I know they’re sitting on the fence. I know they’re contemplating it. There’s significant issues in the party. Those people were talking about it before I left – they’re still talking about it.”
On Nov. 3, Anglin, the MLA for Rimbey-Rocky Mountain House- Sundre, left the Wildrose to sit as an independent.
On Monday, Wildrose MLAs Kerry Towle and Ian Donovan crossed the floor, citing the preferences of their constituents and that the Wildrose party has organizational and leadership problems.
WATCH: Kerry Towle speaks with Global News after leaving Wildrose
NDP MLA Brian Mason called Towle’s decision to cross the floor “the greatest act of personal betrayal that I have ever seen in my 25 years of elected office.”
“I really was quite shocked.”
“Out of the blue, best friend and greatest supporter one day, crosses, cleans out her office and goes across. I couldn’t believe it.”
Towle said she has not spoken to Wildrose leader Danielle Smith since the decision.
“It all hurts. I lost a dear friend yesterday. I lost dear friends in my caucus and staff and of course it hurts. I now have to go and work for my constituents.”
READ MORE: Wildrose MLAs leave party to join PCs
“I’m excited,” said Donovan ahead of Question Period on Tuesday. “I’m on a new team and want to go out and serve Albertans.”
Smith did not answer questions from reporters on Tuesday. In a statement on Monday, she addressed the deflections by speaking about the past decisions of Rob Anderson and Heather Forsyth to leave the PCs to join the Wildrose.
“Rob and Heather crossed the floor from government to opposition because of principle,” said Smith on Monday afternoon. “They gave up the perks of power to serve Albertans, not for personal gain, but because they wanted to put Albertans first. Today, we saw the opposite.”
WATCH: Danielle Smith’s statement on 2 MLAs crossing over
Anglin said the Wildrose is facing a huge problem that it must deal with.
“As far as I can tell, they’re in denial,” he said, adding he feels Smith needs to address the party’s leadership.
“I think Danielle has surrounded herself with people who have been advising her poorly, and they need to be gone.
“I think some party executives need to be gone.”
Anglin said, since Monday, he’s heard of two more Wildrose MLAs considering leaving.
“The’re really concerned and they want to see changes made and they’re pretty upset changes haven’t been made.”
However, when asked if the defections are leading to the end of the Wildrose, Anglin said no.
“It could diminish the party to just fringe status.”
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