The Alberta Liberal Party: Shooting Ourselves in the Foot for Nearly a Century
Dave Taylor, the party’s former deputy leader, the Calgary MLA many Liberals wanted as their top gun 16 months ago, will sit as an independent beginning Monday.
He is fed up with the Liberals as the main opposition on paper but nowhere near that in performance.
“We just don’t have a position that’s obvious to anybody on most things. I’m sorry, but we don’t. For two years now, we haven’t really stood for anything, with a few notable exceptions,” says Taylor, who spearheaded the party’s oilpatch-friendly policy on royalties.
“The Liberals are pretty much off the radar. We’re not talking about or standing for things in a way that translates to Albertans. Most Albertans have passed the Liberals by. People aren’t even politely curious.”
“I don’t think I can serve my constituents or other Albertans in the way they deserved to be served within the Liberals. They’re just too unfocused, too lacking in the ability to connect with the people of Alberta.”
“I just don’t see things happening. I feel I’ve tried.”
Given Taylor’s reputation for being a tad on the lazy side, it should come as no surprise that he’s tired. And the man certainly hasn’t gotten over his loss in 2008’s David versus David showdown.
But this is a big blow. And with Kent Hehr rumoured to be running for mayor of Calgary, the ALP’s caucus size and credibility could be shrinking even further.
This, at a time when vote splitting on the right actually gives ththe party a legitimate shot at power…if it could ever get its act together.