EDMONTON—The United Conservative Party nomination for Red Deer-South has been pushed to the beginning of next year to accommodate a “high-profile individual” interested in joining the race, according to a letter obtained by StarMetro.

With Jason Kenney, the leader of the UCP, calling for an election in March, nomination candidates expected the party will wrap things up before they hit the polls. Although the letter does not mention the election, it does assure that the nomination will not conflict with Canada Games, a multi-sport event, taking place in Red Deer between Feb. 15 and March 3, 2019.

The letter signed by Janice Harrington, executive director of UCP, states that “due to the interest of a high-profile individual to seek the nomination, as well as the Christmas holiday season rapidly approaching, the party has decided not to hold the nomination event until early next year.”

“I recognize that this may be disappointing for some of you to hear, but please understand that we’re seeking what’s best for the members of Red Deer-South, and that decision was made with the intention of providing as many qualified individuals the opportunity to seek the nomination in Red Deer-South as possible.”

The letter claims that the party always tries to “accommodate contestants who have professional responsibilities”; however, Norman Wiebe, one of the candidates seeking nomination for UCP Red Deer-South, says he has “never seen anything like it.”

Wiebe says he was disappointed that the party would schedule things around “somebody’s individual schedule.”

“That’s the only thing that anybody can take offence to … that now they are, you know, bending things to accommodate somebody else. I mean, I would have loved it if they would have accommodated me but … I would never expect it,” he told StarMetro.

As a former member of the Wildrose Party, a former Albertan conservative party that merged with Progressive Conservative Association of Alberta in 2017 to form the UCP, Wiebe says although the move wasn’t grassroots — a guarantee from the party — he believes not every decision can be.

“It’s a tough call,” he said. “We entrust people to make some decisions on our behalf, and we hope they are making the right ones. I guess, it’s only when they perhaps maybe do something that’s seen as contrary to that, that’s when people will get a little bit annoyed.”

Although he doesn’t approve of the party favouring one particular individual who will be competition, he says the “high-profile” status doesn’t bother him.

“Realistically, it’s like any competition. I’ve been a competitive person all my life,” he said.

“Somebody wants to enter the race, then let them at it. If Prince Harry decided to move to Alberta and run, have at it. Best of luck to you, but I’m going to do my best to win.”

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StarMetro reached out to UCP to confirm the identity of the “high-profile individual,” but they declined to comment further.

— with files from Kieran Leavitt.

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