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Outspoken independent conservative MLA Derek Fildebrandt has started a new party in reaction to what he sees as a single, “vanilla” choice for Alberta conservatives.

And he’s “pretty pumped” about it.

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Called the Freedom Conservative Party of Alberta, it will comprise of what the Strathmore-Brooks MLA labels “unapologetic conservatives, libertarians and Alberta patriots.”

Fildebrandt left the United Conservative Party caucus last year and was told in February he’s not welcome back, but says this isn’t about revenge. Rather, it’s a reaction to what he sees as the UCP trampling on the rights of its grassroots membership.

“If it was just about myself or my constituency, I would run as an independent, but it’s not,” he told Postmedia.

“It has become apparent over the last few months that MLAs in the UCP are not allowed to speak their minds and vote on behalf of their constituents. They’re excessively bound by a party whip that wants them to be nothing more than talking point voting machines.”