EDMONTON—The Edmonton Pride Festival Society has rejected the United Conservative Party’s application to participate in the 2018 pride parade.

The UCP, led by Jason Kenney, is the official opposition party in the Alberta legislature.

“The decision made to decline the UCP application to the parade was based on the content of their application, which did not sufficiently convince the selection committee that the UCP should be chosen over other organizations,” the Edmonton Pride Festival said in a release.

The society says it bases its applications on five criteria: How connected the applicant is to the LGBTQ community, their policies and values of inclusion, their plans to make the future more inclusive and their sincerity.

The release says the committee reviewed the UCP’s application and found it “did not meet expectations.”

The release also clarified there had been rumours the “UCP has been denied access” to the festival.

“This is not accurate,” the release states.

The application denial does not prevent UCP members from attending the festival and “participate along with other festival-goers.”

In an email to StarMetro, the UCP says it made the application in “good faith” and is “disappointed with the decision.”

“Especially since our leader, Jason Kenney, intended to be there,” Janice Harrington, executive director to the UCP, wrote.

“Our members will be on hand to participate in whatever way we can.”

The pride festival is held early June every year in Edmonton. The event is organized by the Edmonton Pride Festival Society, a non-profit organization.

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The festival has grown over the years, which is why the society says it doesn’t have space for everyone who wants to march.

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The release says due to the volume of applications, the society has very specific questions in its application to “elicit information about the applicant” and the UCP “did not demonstrate that they should be chosen to march in the Pride Parade over other applicants.”

Edmonton Pride Festival Society says the UCP is welcome to apply again next year as it has “have provided feedback on how they can improve their application”.

Kashmala Fida is an Edmonton-based reporter covering City Hall and diversity. Follow her on Twitter: @KashFida

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