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“Let’s face it, most people that are Wildrose members today were PC members at one time in the past. I do think we agree on 90 per cent of the issues and the 10 per cent, frankly, we can work out,” said Jean.

“But what’s truly, truly important is that we have one party with small-c conservatives offering an alternative to Alberta voters that can win the hearts and minds of Albertans.”

Ric McIver, interim leader of the PCs, has said he has no problem with Tory constituency associations talking with their Wildrose counterparts, noting that it could come to nothing or lead to “big change.”

But Sandra Jansen, PC MLA for Calgary-North West, said she expects there will be little interest among Tories in her riding in holding talks with the Wildrose.

Jansen said that while the two parties have some areas of agreement fiscally, there are significant divisions on social issues.

“I just don’t believe the Wildrose are socially progressive,” she said in an interview.

“They’re a right-wing party. I’m a centrist politician. It’s not a fit for me and I don’t believe it’s a fit for the majority of people I have spoken to in the PC party.”

The two parties have been bitter opponents since Wildrose was formed in the last decade in protest to PC policies in areas such as energy royalties and property rights.

There have been efforts to bring them together in the past, however. Last December saw the defection of the majority of the Wildrose caucus to join the then-Tory government.