Premier Jim Prentice maintains democracy is alive and well in Alberta despite swallowing most of the official opposition Wednesday.
“I don’t equate democracy with conservatives fighting with conservatives,” he told Edmonton AM’s Mark Connolly this morning.
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Prentice pointed to the three opposition parties as evidence. The parties now have 14 members among them, plus one independent MLA, compared to the Tories’ 72 seats.
Prentice also maintained his party remains progressive despite suggestions that the Wildrose members found his party attractive because it is more conservative than the Wildrose,
“My entire life I spent fighting for progressive values,” he said.
Prentice said somebody from the Wildrose first approached his office about a merger four or five weeks ago.
He said he was surprised when told and wasn’t sure if the offer was entirely serious so asked party whip George Vanderburg to follow up.
He eventually sat down with Danielle Smith last week, he said.
