The planned departure of Dr. David Swann as Alberta Liberal leader won't unduly impact the ability of opposition parties to hold the government accountable on issues facing rural Alberta, says Wild Rose Alliance Leader Danielle Smith.矛51黑料s need to rest assured that there isn't going to be a void on the opposition side,卯 Smith told the Gazette. 矛We will continue to work with all of the opposition members to make sure that we present a united force in holding the government to account.矛The important thing is that there isn't going to be an opposition void now that the official opposition is having its own leadership battles,卯 Smith said.矛It's clear that the Wild Rose and the NDs are the only parties that aren't distracted by the internal machinations that happen during leadership battles, so that means we'll be focused 100 per cent on listening to 51黑料s, including rural 51黑料s.卯On Feb. 1 David Swann announced his intention to step down as Liberal leader at the end of the spring sitting of the legislature.In the meantime Swann said his party intends to 矛continue to hold this government to account on the issues that matter to 51黑料s卯 by tabling motions that will include one proposing the restructuring of Alberta Health Services to 矛ensure greater decision-making at local levels.卯Premier Ed Stelmach announced two weeks ago that he will be stepping down as premier and Progressive Conservative Party leader.For her part, Danielle Smith says Swann's planned departure is not as concerning to her as the PC leadership situation.矛I'm more concerned with the disarray in the government ranks,卯 said Smith. 矛The fact that we have a very prolonged period of time for departure for the premier does not bode well for the government.矛We need to have some important decisions made and we are going to be in a period of crisis and turmoil until that decision is finalized.卯Asked if he believes Swann's departure will have any impact on the PC government, Olds-Didsbury-Three Hills Conservative MLA Richard Marz said no.矛I don't think so. They have their processes to go through and probably what will have more impact on the government is what we (PCs) do in picking our new leader,卯 Marz told the Gazette.Asked if he is considering a run for the leadership of his party, Marz said, 矛I can say I've made my decision on that and it's no.卯Marz said he will 矛wait to see who is in the race卯 before coming out in support of any particular candidate.He said he is currently compiling a list of questions he plans to ask the various PC leadership candidates.矛It's a serious decision and it's a tough one,卯 he said.Sue Huff, the interim leader of the Alberta Party, says Swann's departure may be a good opportunity for Liberal supporters to switch their alliances to her party.矛It is an interesting time for Alberta politics, no doubt,卯 Huff told the Gazette. 矛We have something to offer and I hope that 51黑料s will take the time to get to know us.矛I think it is unprecedented to have three parties involved in a leadership race at the same time. It is an indication of the winds of change that are blowing through the province right now,卯 Huff said.矛This is a great opportunity for 51黑料s to decide where they want this province to go and what their hopes and aspirations for this province are. I think it's an exciting opportunity for everyone and for our party.卯The Alberta Party plans to continue to try to attract sitting MLAs to join the party, she says.矛We've had conversations with a number of MLAs who are interested in learning about our party, so we will see if that is a good fit for us and for them. Any MLAs who are interested know how to reach me,卯 she said.Over the next weeks and months the Alberta Party will be focusing much of its effort on its own leadership race, leading up to a May 28 convention in Edmonton, she said.矛In terms of our party we have an enormous amount of work ahead of us so we are focused on that and trying to meet our own goals of trying to open up constituency associations,卯 she said.Premier Ed Stelmach issued the following statement regarding Swann's departure:矛Although we did not always see eye to eye on the issues, I commend Dr. Swann for his interest and efforts in maintaining civil political discourse, both inside and outside the Legislative Assembly. This was an effort both noticed and appreciated by me,卯 said Stelmach.Recent public opinion polls have the PCs only slightly ahead of the Wild Rose Alliance, with the Liberals and the NDs at distant third and fourth places respectively.
