UCP members say party needs to 'pull together' following leadership vote
The mail-in ballots are in and the doors were open other party members seeking to vote in-person, but this evening, the UCP and Alberta will have a new leader.
All seven candidates – Leela Aheer, Todd Loewen, Rebecca Schulz, Rajan Sawhney, Brian Jean, Danielle Smith and Travis Toews – are listed on each ballot with voters tasked with listing their top choices.
In many polls leading up to Thursday's event, Smith, the former Wildrose Party leader, was considered the front runner.
Some Conservative voters at Calgary's BMO Centre say that, no matter who is chosen, the new leader needs to bring the UCP back together.
"The party is a strong party," said one voter. "It's a party that has strong roots in the people and believes in fundamental rights and freedoms of the people."
"They're going to need to pull together under one banner – that's going to be the challenge," said another.
As for the performance of Jason Kenney as UCP leader and premier, voters had a mixed reaction.
"I think he tried to play too many people," one woman said. "I think he generally had the right place in mind when trying to do things, but tried to please too many people and look like a 'flip-flopper.'
"I thought he was a great candidate – went through a hard time with COVID, a hard time with a lot of different things."
Nearly 124,000 party members were eligible to cast a ballot, with the majority having been submitted by mail.
The event begins at 5:30 p.m. at the BMO Centre.
You can watch live coverage of the UCP leadership vote on TV and online starting at 6 p.m. on CTV Calgary.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
B.C. tenants evicted for landlord's use after refusing large rent increase to take over neighbouring suite
Ashley Dickey and her mother rented part of the same Coquitlam duplex in three different decades under three different landlords.
Mountain guide dies after falling into a crevasse in Banff National Park
A man who fell into a crevasse while leading a backcountry ski group deep in the Canadian Rockies has died.
Expert warns of food consumption habits amid rising prices
A new survey by Dalhousie University's Agri-Food Analytics Lab asked Canadians about their food consumption habits amid rising prices.
MPP Sarah Jama asked to leave Ontario legislature for wearing keffiyeh
MPP Sarah Jama was asked to leave the Legislative Assembly of Ontario by House Speaker Ted Arnott on Thursday for wearing a keffiyeh, a garment which has been banned at Queen’s Park.
Charlie Woods, son of Tiger, shoots 81 in U.S. Open qualifier
Charlie Woods failed to advance in a U.S. Open local qualifying event Thursday, shooting a 9-over 81 at Legacy Golf & Tennis Club.
Ex-tabloid publisher testifies he scooped up possibly damaging tales to shield his old friend Trump
As Donald Trump was running for president in 2016, his old friend at the National Enquirer was scooping up potentially damaging stories about the candidate and paying out tens of thousands of dollars to keep them from the public eye.
Here's why provinces aren't following Saskatchewan's lead on the carbon tax home heating fight
After Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said the federal government would still send Canada Carbon Rebate cheques to Saskatchewan residents, despite Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe's decision to stop collecting the carbon tax on natural gas or home heating, questions were raised about whether other provinces would follow suit. CTV News reached out across the country and here's what we found out.
Montreal actress calls Weinstein ruling 'discouraging' but not surprising
A Montreal actress, who has previously detailed incidents she had with disgraced Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein, says a New York Court of Appeals decision overturning his 2020 rape conviction is 'discouraging' but not surprising.
Caleb Williams, Jayden Daniels and Drake Maye make it four NFL drafts with quarterbacks going 1-3
Caleb Williams is heading to the Windy City, aiming to become the franchise quarterback Chicago has sought for decades.