Calgary-North West MLA Sandra Jansen crossed the floor to join the Alberta NDP caucus on Thursday, two weeks after she dropped out of the PC leadership race.
Jansen said she was joining the NDP because she wanted to be a legislator again and to work with what she described as a reasonable, pragmatic government.
“I don’t believe that there has been anything moderate or pragmatic being offered or even discussed by the people intent on taking over the Progressive Conservative Party of Alberta,” Jansen said in a dig at leadership candidate and former federal Conservative MP Jason Kenney.
Jansen said Premier Rachel Notley’s NDP, not the PCs, is now carrying on the legacy of former Conservative premier Peter Lougheed.
“To see that legacy being kicked to the curb by extremists who are taking over the PC party has been heartbreaking to me,” Jansen said. “The tone that is being brought into Alberta politics belongs in our past.”
Alleged harassment, intimidation
Jansen abandoned her leadership bid after alleging she was harassed and intimidated by volunteers from another candidate’s campaign.
Days later, she indicated she was reconsidering her future with the PC party, of which she has been a member for three decades. She was first elected in 2012 and served as an associate cabinet minister under former premier Alison Redford.
Moments after Notley announced the floor-crossing, Progressive Conservative interim leader Ric McIver issued a statement wishing Jansen well “in her new role” within the government.
“Sandra has been a valued member of our caucus, and we know that the government will benefit from her sharp intellect and passion for serving Albertans,” McIver said.
Jansen’s switch gives the NDP 55 of 87 seats in the legislature and leaves the PCs with eight. The legislature resumes its fall sitting on Monday.