No more Wildrose MLA defections anticipated, Jim Prentice says

Alberta Premier Jim Prentice says he is not anticipating any more Wildrose Party MLAs will cross the floor to sit with his governing Progressive Conservative party.

• 9 Wildrose MLAs, including Danielle Smith, cross to Alberta Tories
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• TIMELINE | The rise and fall of Alberta's Wildrose Party

Nine Wildrose MLAs, including leader Danielle Smith, announced Wednesday they are defecting to the Tories, leaving the official opposition party with five members in the legislature.

Speaking on CBC Radios Calgary Eyeopener on Thursday, Prentice said he doesnt think the holdouts will follow their former caucus mates.

The premier said the decision by Smith and the eight others to join the government is a significant step towards reuniting the conservative family.

They're most welcome, theyre respected people and they want to make a contribution in what are pretty challenging times for us as a province, he said.

The floor-crossingMLAsare:

Danielle Smith Highwood.
Rob Anderson Airdrie.
Gary Bikman Cardston-Taber-Warner.
Rod Fox Lacombe-Ponoka.
Jason Hale Strathmore-Brooks.
BruceMcAllisterChestermere-RockyView.
BlakePedersen Medicine Hat.
Bruce Rowe Olds-Didsbury-ThreeHills.
Jeff Wilson Calgary-Shaw.

The remainingWildroseMLAsare:

Drew BarnesCypress-Medicine Hat.
HeatherForsythCalgary-Fish Creek.
ShayneSaskiwLac LaBiche-St. Paul-Two Hills.
PatStierLivingstone-Macleod.
RickStrankmanDrumheller-Stettler.