While all the attention recently has been on Alberta’s political right, a party representing the centre has been fading into the night.
There is still a slight glimmer for the Alberta Liberal Party, but it’s about as bright as a solar-powered lawn ornament.
As far back as 2011, leader David Swann expressed his intentions that he wanted to step down. The party has struggled to gain a foothold in the province’s political landscape since the days of Laurence Decore for a number of reasons, both internally and externally.
Now the only candidate to step forward to run in a leadership contest, outgoing St. Albert Mayor Nolan Crouse, is stepping down.
The party said there are two other potential candidates that must be verified; but with nominations closing March 31, that’s not a strong show of interest for the job.
When will the Liberal party admit that it can’t outrun the dark clouds that hang over it from past experiences of the federal Liberal party? There is another option for Albertans looking for a centrist home that doesn’t carry as much baggage and Greg Clark is doing his best to build up the Alberta Party.
The Alberta Liberal Party must rip off the Band-Aid quickly to help the political centre heal.