One of the details of the merger that has been a source of some concern has to do with policy. What policies will the "new" party be advocating during its first campaign? This is a critical question, because the election platform will serve to position the "Wildrose Alliance" on the political spectrum, and thereby forever define it in the minds of the voters.
You never get a second chance to make a first impression.
There is no mention of policy at all in the Notice of Special General Meeting available on the Alberta Alliance website. (A copy of the Notice can be found in this post on The Wildrose Report.)
In a January 2 radio interview, Alberta Alliance Leader Paul Hinman announced that all current policies of the Alberta Alliance will become the policies of the post-merger party. (More evidence that this "merger" really amounts to the Wildrose Party being absorbed in toto by the Alberta Alliance.) The full interview is available here:
If you move ahead to the 4:55 mark, you will hear Hinman say: "Basically, we are accepting the Alberta Alliance policies, and the Wildrose constitution". He then goes on to tell us that there is great similarity between the current Alliance policies, and those in effect at Wildrose: "Very few [policies] are contradicting; generally they're all the same." (Starting at the 5:25 mark.)
I found this passage to be a bit odd when I first heard it, because my understanding is that the entirety of Wildrose Party policies can be found here. There are a total of 6 policies.
The Alberta Alliance policies can be found here. The AAP policy book is a 30 page sleep-inducer consisting of dozens and dozens of policies. Wildrose has no policies in most of the areas covered by the AAP, yet Paul Hinman is trying to convince us that the two policy platforms are so similar that they essentially amount to carbon copies of one another: "Generally, they're all the same."
How is nothing, the same as something?
Now, I'm sure you Alberta Alliance members will be quick to point out that I am referring to a dated, 2006 policy book, and that policies were substantially modified at the November, 2007, Alberta Alliance policy conference.
This may be, but the Alliance website still seems to contain the old policies. Given that the new policies are an integral part of the merger, I think they should be made public. After all, in order for Wildrose members to come to an informed decision on the merger, they need to know what it is that they are agreeing to.
I'll bang out a quick email and see if I can get an up-to-date copy of the Alberta Alliance policy book, along with some other documents that we need to review.
Update 01/05/08: I have just sent the following email in to Alberta Alliance CFO, Jane Morgan:
Request for documentation
The Watcher (albertaalliancewatch)
To: Jane Morgan
I am writing to you in response to the invitation set out in the Alberta Alliance Party's December 30, "Notice of Special General Meeting". I am not a party member, but do require some documentation from the Alberta Alliance in order to complete an analysis I am doing for a number of Wildrose Party members.
The documents I am seeking are as follows:
1. An up-to-date Alberta Alliance policy book.
2. A copy of the Alberta Alliance constitution in effect just prior to the November AAP policy conference.
3. A copy of the Alberta Alliance constitution now in effect.
The last constitution I have on file is this one. It is an unsigned draft, and I believe it is now dated. Similarly, I believe the policy document I have is out of date, as are the policy pages on the Alberta Alliance website. If I am wrong about this, please advise.
According to Paul Hinman, the "Wildrose Alliance" will be adopting current Alberta Alliance policies as part of the merger, and since Wildrose members may be operating under the assumption that the policies on your website are current, immediate clarification is required. An up-to-date constitution is also required, in order for me to offer advice as to whether the current policies have been passed in accordance with the constitution. In addition, a copy of the Alliance constitution in effect just prior to the November policy conference is necessary
I look forward to any assistance you can provide with respect to these requests.
Please be advised that I will be publishing the content of this email, along with any response you provide, so that the Wildrose members and other readers of Alberta Alliance Watch and The Wildrose Report are fully informed of our communications. Given your party's oft-stated commitment to transparency and accountability, I assume that this is acceptable.
I have also opened comments on this post, if you choose to respond on my blog.
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Regards,
The Watcher
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