2017 Progressive Conservative Association of Alberta leadership election


The 2017 Progressive Conservative Association of Alberta leadership election was held on March 18, 2017 in Calgary. It chose Jason Kenney as the successor to
former Alberta Premier and Progressive Conservative Association of Alberta leader Jim Prentice. He resigned after the party was defeated in the May 5, 2015 general election. The party had governed the province for 44 consecutive years. Prentice had been elected leader eight months prior to his defeat.
On May 11, 2015, the remaining nine members of the party's caucus elected Ric McIver as interim leader.
According to the party's constitution, a leadership election was to be held within six months of a vacancy occurring; in this case within six months of May 5, 2015 when Prentice announced his resignation. However, the party's board of directors decided to delay the convention and, at its 2016 AGM, decided to hold the next leadership election between August 2016 and May 2017. The party's board of directors later decided to hold the election in the spring of 2017.

Campaign spending

Kenney spent $1.46 million on his leadership campaign, nearly nine times the $162,603 spent by his closet rival, Richard Starke. Stephen Khan spent $24,919 on the campaign, while Byron Nelson spent $15,579.

Rules

For the first time since 1985, the leader will be chosen by a delegated leadership convention rather than a One Member One Vote system in which all party members vote. Each of the 87 riding associations will elect 15 delegates to the convention. Five of those 15 spots are reserved for those serving as directors of the boards at those riding associations as of October 1, 2016, and three of the 15 delegates must be youth delegates. All provincial board members of the party and former PC MLAs are automatic delegates. To win, a candidate must gain 50% +1 of votes cast. If no candidate wins a majority on the first ballot, the candidate with the lowest vote total is dropped from the next ballot. Balloting continues until one candidate wins a majority.
Candidates must make financial disclosures of all pre and post-writ campaign activity, retroactive to June 30, 2016. Candidates must “avoid causing harm or disrepute to the PCAA and its brand through any detrimental action or conduct, whether intentional or unintentional”. All candidates will have to post a $20,000 performance bond — refundable if they comply with all the rules — in addition to the $30,000 non-refundable entrance fee. To be nominated, candidates are required to obtain signatures from 500 party members, 100 from each region.
The party has imposed no spending, donation, or fundraising limits, however, in the fall of 2016 provincial legislature is expected to consider a proposal to legislate a $300,000 spending limit on all leadership campaigns, regardless of party. It is unclear whether such a law would be made retroactive and apply to the current PC leadership election.
To be eligible to vote one must be a current party member at least 14 days prior to the Delegate Selection Meeting for the member's constituency.

Timeline

[Jason Kenney]

;Background
, MP for Calgary Midnapore
Former Conservative Party of Canada MP for Calgary Midnapore, Alberta and Calgary Southeast, Alberta, federal Minister of National Defence, federal Minister for Multiculturalism, federal Minister of Employment and Social Development, Minister of Citizenship and Immigration. Previously a Reform Party and then Canadian Alliance MP.
Kenney announced his leadership bid in a speech at a supporters' rally in a Calgary hotel on July 6, 2016, in the middle of the Calgary Stampede. The following day he held a media availability in which he announced further details of his campaign plan and took media questions. At the time, Kenney stated that he thought the name "'Conservative Party of Alberta' had potential". Former Prime Minister Stephen Harper announced his endorsement of Kenney's campaign on July 9 at his final Stampede BBQ in Calgary Heritage and interim Conservative Party leader Rona Ambrose announced her endorsement at the same event.
;Supporters

Byron Nelson

;Background
Byron Nelson, 45, is a Calgary father, lawyer and business owner, was the PC candidate in Calgary Bow in 2015 and is chair of the Shriners Hospitals for Children in Southern Alberta.
;Supporters

[Richard Starke]

;Background
Starke is the Opposition House Leader and MLA for Vermilion-Lloydminster. He was Minister of Tourism, Parks and Recreation under premiers Alison Redford and Dave Hancock. He was a veterinarian before entering politics.
;Supporters

Withdrawn candidates

[Sandra Jansen]

;Background
Opposition Critic for Education, Human Services and Status of Women, MLA for Calgary-North West, Minister of Family & Community Safety. Was a broadcaster prior to entering politics.
;Supporters

[Stephen Khan]

;Background
Minister responsible for Service Alberta, former MLA for St. Albert
;Supporters

[Donna Kennedy-Glans]

;Background
MLA for Calgary Varsity, Associate Minister – Electricity and Renewable Energy
;Supporters

Declined

Manmeet Bhullar, MLA for Calgary-Greenway since 2008 and former Minister of Service Alberta, former Minister of Human Services, had been considered a potential candidate until he was killed in a motor vehicle accident on Nov. 23, 2015.

Results

Balloting occurred on March 18, 2017 at the Telus Convention Centre. Kenney was declared the winner on the first ballot.
CandidateVotesPercentage
Jason Kenney1,11375.4%
Richard Starke32321.9%
Byron Nelson402.7%
Total1,476100%'

Spolied ballots: 3''