Members of the Freedom Conservative Party of Alberta and Wexit Alberta voted to merge their parties in June, forming the new party.

Maureen Prince, volunteer president of the Medicine Hat Wildrose Constituency Association, says she was acting as a private citizen when she wore a contentious button that sparked a heated debate about gay-straight alliances.

After months of controversy within the Alberta PC Party, whoever wins the leadership race will have a lot of work to do to regain the trust of Albertans. In addition, the party will have to face off against a Wildrose Party that's prepared to fight in the next provincial election.