Differing visions at the Alberta PC leadership race launch in Lethbridge

And they're off!

Alberta's Progressive Conservative partyofficially kicked off its leadership contest Saturday night at a hotel ballroom inLethbridge.

Four candidates have declared themselves to be in the race, even though the nomination period didn't actually open until Saturday.

Alberta Tories will pick a new leader at a delegated convention next March in Calgary.Their last leader, Jim Prentice, resigned after losing to the NDP in the May 2015 election.

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Former MP JasonKenneywas the first to indicate he's in the race. He spent the summer driving around Alberta meeting Conservatives.

He has been joined by MLA RichardStarke, former MLA DonnaKennedy-Glansand Calgary lawyer Byron Nelson.

Several more candidates are expected to join the race prior to the Nov.10deadline for contenders.

So far,Kenneyis the only candidate to talk openly about merging the PC party with theWildroseparty to giveAlbertansa united conservative alternative in the 2019 election.

Party president Katherine O'Neill said it will be up to the members to decide the party's future direction.

"For sure, we are at a crossroads," said O'Neill. "It's truly up to them [the party's members] to make that decision about which way we go."

She expects another one or two people will jump into the race.

O'Neill said she's excited the race is finally underway, the latest step as the party tries to recover from its defeat in last year's election.

The speeches begin

The four contenders were given time to speak to approximately 120 people who showed up for the launch event.

Kenneysaid he would welcome another pro-unity candidate in the race but so far, that hasn't happened.

"I think it would be great to have a choice of somebody who wants to ensure the defeat of the NDP in the next election," saidKenney. "At the end of the day, the members have the say."

Nelson agreed with Kenney thateightyears of NDP government would be "a disaster."

"I think we need to focus on not just getting the NDP out in 2019, but in restoring and rebuilding this province once we get them out. Because if we don't have a vision and we don't have a plan, we may never recover this province," Nelson said.

In her speech, DonnaKennedy-Glanstold party members about Alberta needing a party and a leader which are both progressive and conservative. She doesn't believeKenney'sstrategy will necessarily defeat the NDP government in 2019.

"Asking people who voted left to come back into a party that's leaning farther right seems to me not to be a strategy that's feasible," saidKennedy-Glans.

Starkeurged members not to give up on the party.

"Don't let the pundits, don't let the media, don't let the other parties, and don't even let leadership candidates tell you our party is dead because that's not their decision. That's up to you and you already decided our party is alive and we're going to rebuild the Progressive Conservative party ofAlberta."

More candidates possible

Interim party leader RicMcIveris among those that may still enter this race.

"Albertanshave told me they're shopping for the next government already," saidMcIver. "I think there's quite an appetite for the type of leadership, the type of hope that existed when we had a PC government."

Between November and February, PC members will vote for delegates who will go to the leadership convention to choose the next party leader. It's the first time the party has decided to go with a delegated convention since 1985.

In the past few contests, it was a one-member, one-vote system. It was criticized by some party stalwarts who said it resulted in 'two-minute Tories' people who voted for a candidate and then left the party.

However, it was also praised for allowing anyAlbertanto have a say on who the PC leader would be and during the PC dynasty years, who would be the next premier.

Now that it's out of power, the cash-strapped PCs have decided to return to their roots for a cheaper and easier to run leadership vote.

Leadership contenders have to post a $30,000non-refundableadministration fee, as well as a $20,000 compliance bond to ensure they follow the rules.

To be confirmed as a leadership candidate, a contestant must gather 500 signatures from party members. Those signatures must come from each of the party's five regions (Edmonton, Calgary, North, South and Central). They also must disclose all of their expenses and donations.

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