UCP

United Conservative Party

Parti conservateur uni

Alberta's governing right-of-centre party, formed in 2017 from the merger of the Progressive Conservative Association of Alberta (in office 1971-2015) and the Wildrose Party (founded 2008). Jason Kenney led the merger and the UCP to a majority government in 2019, defeating Rachel Notley's NDP. Kenney resigned after a 51.4% leadership review in May 2022. Danielle Smith became leader in October 2022, having previously led Wildrose, and won a majority in May 2023. Smith's government has built its program around the Alberta Sovereignty Within a United Canada Act (2022), the Provincial Priorities Act (2024) regulating federal-provincial agreements, the Alberta Health Services restructuring into four authorities (Bill 26 of 31st Leg 1st Session), and the proposed Alberta Provincial Police Service.

Leader

Danielle Smith

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Positions on Issues

Climate & Environment
The Alberta UCP under Premier Danielle Smith opposes the federal Clean Electricity Regulations (Alberta has stated it will not comply with the 2035 net-zero electricity grid target), defends continued oil-sands development and pipeline expansion, has launched a constitutional challenge against the federal Impact Assessment Act (Reference re Impact Assessment Act, 2023 SCC 23 ruling found parts unconstitutional), and has used the Alberta Sovereignty within a United Canada Act (passed 2022) to declare federal climate measures non-binding on Alberta where deemed unconstitutional.
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Federalism & Quebec
The Alberta UCP government under Premier Danielle Smith passed the Alberta Sovereignty Within a United Canada Act (S.A. 2022, c. A-39.5) giving Alberta Cabinet authority to declare federal initiatives unconstitutional and direct provincial entities not to enforce them, joined the Saskatchewan First Act framework, supports significant equalization-formula reform that better reflects oil-and-gas-producing province contributions (Alberta has been a net contributor to equalization every year except briefly in the 1960s; the 2021 Alberta-referendum vote of 61.7 percent in favour of removing equalization from the constitution was symbolic), and supports the Pension Plan Information Act framework toward a potential Alberta Pension Plan replacing CPP.
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Healthcare
The Alberta UCP government under Premier Danielle Smith dismantled Alberta Health Services into four separate provincial agencies under Bill 26 of the 31st Legislature (Acute Care Alberta, Primary Care Alberta, Continuing Care Alberta, and Mental Health and Addiction Alberta). Supports the federal Pharmacare bilateral on contraceptives and diabetes medications, opened Alberta-Quebec recognition of credentials for internationally trained physicians, and committed to building or expanding hospitals across the province. Has implemented the 2024 provincial regulations restricting medical care for transgender youth, the subject of Charter section 7 and section 15 court challenges by the Alberta Federation of Labour and Egale Canada.
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Leader

Positions on Issues

Members (15)