Alberta’s Wildrose party names Heather Forsyth interim leader

CALGARY — Alberta’s Wildrose party has named an interim leader after Danielle Smith and eight other caucus members bolted to the governing Progressive Conservatives.

Heather Forsyth is one of the five remaining Wildrose caucus members in the legislature.

Forsyth, a former solicitor general who crossed the floor to the Wildrose party from the PCs in 2010, will lead the party until a permanent replacement is chosen.

“This is a pivotal moment for Alberta. In the pursuit of power, democracy has been swept aside,” Forsyth said in a speech to chanting supporters at the party headquarters in Calgary Monday.

“There is no doubt an overwhelming number of Albertans feel hurt — who feel that the most noble notion of public life has been shattered. Folks, let there be no questions, Albertans did not lose their Opposition.”

Last week, Smith resigned as Wildrose leader and crossed the floor with eight others to join Premier Jim Prentice.

The move was pitched as a reunification of Alberta’s right, with the defectors saying they are ideologically sympatico with Prentice.

Choosing the new leader won’t happen until next March at the earliest. “Per our constitution we’ve got three to nine months,” said Wildrose president Jeff Callaway.

Forsyth said she and her fellow caucus members will focus on doing a better job for the 440,000 Albertans who voted Wildrose in the last election and for everyone who expects the best from their politicians.

Earlier this year Forsyth indicated she would not run again due to family reasons. She said she now plans to stick around until at least the next election call expected in 2016.

It remains to be seen if Wildrose will still be the Official Opposition as the Alberta Liberals also have five seats in the legislature. Both parties have sent the Speaker letters asking for the role.