Calgary-South East MLA Rick Fraser leaves UCP to sit as independent

Calgary-South East MLA Rick Fraser has announced he will sit as an independent.

Fraser penned a letter Thursday morning saying he has a respect for the United Conservative Party (UCP).

But he said since Alison Redford stepped down as premier, there has been “multiple leadership races, cabinet changes and an election,” and “an overwhelming focus on politics in Alberta and not on the people of Alberta.”

https://twitter.com/RickFraserYYC/status/910888661566111744

In his letter, Fraser also took time to talk about education, social issues and the environment versus energy debate.

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LISTEN: Rick Fraser explains his decision to sit as an independent

He’s the second former PC MLA to step away from the party. Just after the PC-Wildrose unification was voted on in July, Vermilion-Lloydminster MLA Richard Starke announced he would not be joining the newly created party.

Fraser’s announcement comes one day after the UCP held its first leadership debate in Calgary.