Progressive Conservative and Wildrose caucus

members come together under shared principles

December 17, 2014
Premier Jim Prentice and Danielle Smith announced the
unification of Albertas conservatives as nine members of the
Wildrose caucus unite with the Progressive Conservative
caucus, which will continue to welcome further Wildrose
MLAs.
Throughout my public and political life, I have always
believed conservatives should be united in bringing our
common principles and combined energy to public service.
Today, we once again represent the full diversity of voices and
regions from across Alberta north, south, urban and rural,
Premier Jim Prentice said. Alberta is stronger today with
these committed people working together. Our province
needs united leadership and shared purpose in tackling the
challenges ahead.
Smith resigned as Wildrose leader this morning and the
caucuses have agreed to unite under a set of aligned values
and principles, including: respecting property rights,
strengthening local decision-making in health care, and
committing to sound conservative fiscal principles.

Additional information
Nine new PC caucus members:
Danielle Smith (Highwood)
Rob Anderson (Airdrie)
Gary Bikman (Cardston-TaberWarner)
Rod Fox (Lacombe-Ponoka)
Jason Hale (Strathmore-Brooks)
Bruce McAllister (ChestermereRocky View)
Blake Pedersen (Medicine Hat)
Bruce Rowe (Olds-Didsbury-Three
Hills)
Jeff Wilson (Calgary-Shaw)
Aligned values and principles
Biographies

When I became Wildrose leader more than five years ago, I

did so with one singular objective in mind: to return to
government the conservative values and principles that I had
spent my life defending. Under Premier Prentices strong
leadership, I believe we can work together to lead Alberta
with a renewed focus on the values and principles that we
share, Smith said.

Media Inquiries

A transition team will work through the integration of the new

members into the PC caucus, including legislative affairs and
staff matters.

Brock Harrison
Press Secretary to
Danielle Smith
780.984.5076

Emily Woods
Press Secretary to
Premier Jim Prentice
780.668.8617

Aligned Values and Principles

In this time of economic uncertainty, it is imperative we come together
to make the necessary decisions to chart us through these challenges and
make our province stronger than ever.

The policy principles listed below align with the governments current policy agenda, and in
particular with the five priorities of the Premier and the Mandate Letters sent to his Cabinet
Ministers.

MLA-driven review of existing property rights legislation including recommendations

for improvement
Development of a public prioritized infrastructure list for major capital projects and
maintenance
Commitment to running the most ethical and transparent government in Canada
Free votes for private members bills, private members motions and government bills
dealing with issues of personal conscience
Commitment to a caucus briefing, debate and vote on all proposed government
legislation and major spending initiatives prior to their public announcement.

Health Care

Strengthen health care decision making at the local level

Commitment to increasing patient choice in health care within the auspices of the
Canada Health Act
Development of a plan to make our health care system fiscally sustainable given the
changing demographics of our population

Education

Commitment to addressing Albertas school shortage and maintenance backlog

Ensure each school board is using a grading system that is easy for parents to
understand and objectively grades a students skills and knowledge of the provincial
curriculum
Commitment to the basics of reading, writing and mathematics in the provincial
curriculum
An ongoing commitment to protecting the rights of parents in making informed choices
pertaining to their childs education

Budget and Finances

Development of a new multi-year fiscal plan based on fiscal conservative principles to

maintain Albertas triple A credit rating, that will balance the budget, bring an end to
debt financing, including for capital, and pay off the provincial debt
Protect and strengthen the Heritage Fund as a means to reduce reliance on nonrenewable resource revenues
Limit operational cost increases to the rate of inflation plus population
A commitment to not implementing a provincial sales tax and keeping Albertas income
and business taxes the lowest in Canada

Environment and Energy

Developing an aggressive strategy to promote more consumer use and adoption of

cleaner burning fuels and alternative energy sources such as domestically produced
natural gas, solar, wind and geothermal power
Strengthening the effective monitoring of our provinces air, water and land quality and
a commitment to keeping our provinces environment clean
Maximize the value of our natural resources by expanding access and pipeline capacity
to multiple international and domestic markets
Ensure that our tax and royalty regimes continue to be attractive to investment when
compared with other competing jurisdictions, and work to decrease unnecessary red
tape

Municipal Financing

Develop a stable and predictable municipal funding model

Streamline and consolidate the various municipal granting programs to achieve less
provincial and municipal red tape

Danielle Smith
MLA for Highwood

Danielle Smith was elected as the Member of the Legislative Assembly for Highwood
on April 23, 2012. She was elected as leader of the Wildrose Party of Alberta on
October 17, 2009.
Prior to entering politics, Ms. Smith was the director of provincial affairs for Alberta
with the Canadian Federation of Independent Business, CFIB. She worked with all
levels of government to represent the interests of CFIBs 10,000 small-business
members in Alberta.
Before joining CFIB, Ms. Smith had extensive experience in the media. She was an
editorial writer and columnist at the Calgary Herald for six years. She served as host of
Global Sunday, a national current affairs television talk show, and was also the host of
two programs on CKMX 1060 AM radio in Calgary, Health Frontiers and Standing
Ground. She has made frequent guest appearances as a commentator on TV and
radio.
Ms. Smiths public policy experience began with an internship at the Fraser Institute.
She was also elected as a trustee for the Calgary board of education and served as the
director of the Alberta Property Rights Initiative and the Canadian Property Rights
Research Institute.
Ms. Smith received a BA in English and a BA in economics from the University of
Calgary. She married her husband, David Moretta in 2006 and is the proud stepmother
of Davids son Jonathan. Danielle and David live in High River with their two dogs,
Caine and Colt.

Rob Anderson
MLA for Airdrie

Rob Anderson was elected to his second term in Albertas Legislative Assembly as the
Member for Airdrie on April 23, 2012.
In 2003 Mr. Anderson graduated magna cum laude from Brigham Young University with a
bachelor of arts in communications. Three years later he obtained a bachelor of laws from
the University of Alberta, graduating with 'distinction' honours.
While at law school Mr. Anderson earned the coveted Merv Leitch QC scholarship for
superior academic standing in constitutional law and demonstrated participation in
related extracurricular activities, which in his case included his cofounding the
organization Students for a Stronger Alberta. This group advocated for democratic reform
and more meaningful voter participation in the democratic process, printed a university
newspaper (The Independent), focused on debating relevant public policy and political
issues of the day and organized a speaker series on strengthening democracy. He further
demonstrated his interest in legal issues as they relate to the political sphere by earning
the highest academic standing in the U of A law school's law and democratic process
course.
Prior to his election as a Member of the Legislative Assembly Mr. Anderson practiced
corporate litigation law at Borden Ladner Gervais LLP in Calgary. Aside from the
opportunity to work with some of Canada's most knowledgeable legal minds, this
experience provided him with firsthand insight into how and why companies succeed or
fail.
Mr. Anderson and his wife, Anita, live in Airdrie, where they raise their four sons: Derek,
Bryce, Spencer and Joshua. He also has the opportunity to spend time with his parents,
four brothers and two sisters, who live nearby.

Gary Bikman
MLA for Cardston-Taber-Warner

Gary Bikman was elected as the Member of the Legislative Assembly for Cardston-TaberWarner on April 23, 2012.
Mr. Bikman was born and raised in southern Alberta. He holds a bachelors of science
degree and a masters in business administration degree from Brigham Young University
in Provo, Utah.
Mr. Bikman has extensive business experience, having successfully owned and managed
an oilfield service company for 25 years. He cofounded and led ChopStix Restaurants
from 2006 to 2010 and ChopStix International Franchising Inc. from 2010 to 2012. Mr.
Bikman is also an experienced and dedicated educator, having been a sessional
instructor at the University of Lethbridges faculty of management and at Lethbridge
College.
An active member of his community, Mr. Bikman has frequently served as Stirlings
mayor, deputy mayor and councillor since 1980. He has also served intermittently as a
member of the Chinook Arch Regional Library Board and as a scout leader in the village
of Stirling.
Mr. Bikman and his first wife, Suzy, moved to Stirling in 1972. She died of cancer in 1989,
leaving their nine children motherless.
He later met and married Sheila Cooper-Leavitt. Together with her four children their
blended family totals 13, with over 30 grandchildren. They continue to reside in Stirling.
In his spare time he enjoys sports, yard work, leading self-employment workshops and
teaching ethics and morality to teenagers. He is also an avid reader.

Rod Fox
MLA for Lacombe-Ponoka

Rod Fox was elected as the Member of the Legislative Assembly for Lacombe-Ponoka on
April 23, 2012.
Mr. Fox was born and raised in Whitecourt and currently calls Lacombe home. His
professional background is in insurance, finance, marketing, managing and business
relations. Until his election to the Legislative Assembly he was sales manager for the
largest Canadian-owned insurance premium finance company in Manitoba,
Saskatchewan, Alberta and British Columbia.
Mr. Fox has been heavily involved in federal politics in the riding of Wetaskiwin. He has
also been active at the local level, having served as a director on the Lacombe Economic
Development Board from 2006 to 2007 and having run for Lacombe Town Council in
2007.

Jason Hale
MLA for Strathmore-Brooks

Jason Hale was elected as the Member of the Legislative Assembly for Strathmore-Brooks
on April 23, 2012.
Mr. Hale was born and raised near Bassano. In 2010 the Hale family celebrated a century
of living in the community. He and his wife and two sons currently run a cow-calf
operation. Mr. Hale has also worked as a consultant in the oil and gas sector and as a
professional bullfighter.
Mr. Hale graduated from the Southern Alberta Institute of Technology (SAIT) with a
chemical technology diploma.
An active member of his community, Mr. Hale has been a member of the Bassano Rodeo
Committee for the past eight years and a director of the Bassano Agricultural Society for
the past three years. He has also regularly volunteered as a coach and manager with
community hockey and baseball teams.
Mr. Hale and his family reside on their farm in Bassano.

Bruce McAllister
MLA for Chestermere-Rocky View

Bruce McAllister was elected as the Member of the Legislative Assembly for
Chestermere-Rocky View on April 23, 2012.
Mr. McAllister was born Fredericton, New Brunswick, and has called Alberta home for
the majority of his life. After completing a diploma in broadcast journalism from
Loyalist College in Belleville, Ontario, he began a 20-year career in journalism that took
him to Halifax, Winnipeg, Medicine Hat and Calgary. Most recently Mr. McAllister
anchored Global TV Calgarys morning show.
An active member of his community, Mr. McAllister has worked as a spokesperson and
master of ceremonies in support of countless community causes. Sports, literacy and
seniors events are especially important to him.
Mr. McAllister lives in Chestermere with his wife, Lisa, and their three children. He
enjoys spending time with his family as well as playing hockey, golf and reading.

Blake Pedersen
MLA for Medicine Hat

Blake Pedersen was elected as the Member of the Legislative Assembly for Medicine
Hat in 2012.
Blake was born and raised in Gull Lake, Saskatchewan on the family farm. Following
graduation from Gull Lake High School, Blake spent some time in Vancouver as a
drummer with a country rock band, and later returned to Gull Lake and entered the
work force with a local oilfield services supply company.
Blake participated in a 10-month Agricultural Exchange Program to Australia with the
International Agricultural Exchange Association, and upon his return to Canada
returned to the oilfield services supply industry. Since 1999, Blake has been the coowner of a successful oilfield services supply company based in Redcliff.
Blake and Angela have called Medicine Hat home since 1996, and have a passion for
their community, the arts, travel, and experiencing different cultures.

Bruce Rowe
MLA for Olds-Didsbury-Three Hills

Bruce Rowe was elected as the Member of the Legislative Assembly for Olds-DidsburyThree Hills on April 23, 2012.
Mr. Rowe was born and raised in Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan. After graduating from St.
Louis high school, he became an electrician. Mr. Rowe owned and operated an electrical
contracting company in Calgary for 35 years. He retired from the private sector in 2005,
allowing him to focus his attention and energy on serving the people of Beiseker and all
Albertans.
For 10 years Mr. Rowe was involved with the Alberta Urban Municipalities Association as
a director and vice-president. He also served as a director with the Alberta Municipal
Services Corporation for eight years.
Mr. Rowe served the village of Beiseker in a variety of public roles, including councillor,
mayor and library board member in the last 10 years.
Mr. Rowe and his wife, Carol, are proud to call Beiseker home. They have two grown
children and two grandchildren. In his spare time he likes to play golf and restore old
cars. He also previously served in the Uncle at Large program for three years.

Jeff Wilson
MLA for Calgary-Shaw

Jeff Wilson was elected as the Member of the Legislative Assembly for Calgary-Shaw on
April 23, 2012.
Mr. Wilson graduated from Harry Collinge high school in Hinton. He completed a
broadcasting diploma at Mount Royal college in Calgary in 2000. He has worked in the
communications field ever since, both as an entrepreneur and as an employee with
AVW-TELAV, a North American audiovisual solutions company.
Mr. Wilson first became involved in politics while attending Mount Royal college,
where he served as president of the Broadcasting Society from 1999 to 2000. An active
member of his community, he has volunteered at Calgarys Ronald McDonald House
and with the Calgary Womens Emergency Shelter.