UCP-Beasley Correspondence July 14

We acknowledge the right of individuals in a free society to make controversial, even
offensive comments. Yet that does not provide a right to be accepted to run for a given
political party. Indeed, the state is not preventing you from running for public office. The
United Conservative Party (UCP) is merely rejecting your effort to run under the UCP
banner.
I trust we both agree that there is much at stake in the election. We agree that the
consequences of a second NDP term would be disastrous for Albertans. As our Leader
Jason Kenney has previously stated, we cannot allow ‘bozo eruptions’ to inflict serious
harm to the overall objective of defeating the NDP and getting our province back on
track:
“I will propose a rigorous screening process for prospective candidates to red

light those who have advocated truly hateful views or who have serious
reputational problems. When you step in (into the political arena), especially as a
representative of a political party, you have to demonstrate a degree of discipline.
Because otherwise one person’s crazy remarks can tarnish a party made up of
hundreds of thousands of people. We will never let that happen again. We can’t
let that happen again.” (Canadian Press, June 19, 2017, attached as Appendix
C)
I recognize that you are disappointed in the outcome, and I sympathize with the work
that you have put into your nomination campaign thus far. That said, I must inform you
that the duly-elected Board of Directors have unanimously confirmed the decision of the
Nominations Committee regarding your disqualification. As such, no further appeal is
available.
Sincerely,
Janice Harrington
Executive Director
United Conservative Party of Alberta
2
APPENDIX A
From: Todd Beasley

Date: Friday, July 13, 2018 at 10:19 AM
Subject: A letter I don't want to release
Dear Sir/Ma’am,
This is very difficult for me to write as I know how much faith, support and effort so many people of my riding
and all through the province have put in me.
After being approached by many people within this riding and throughout the province who urged me to do so,
I put my hat in the political ring with the very best of intentions. I've run an ethical and heartfelt campaign from
the beginning. It has been my promise to represent "every" person and community within the Brooks Medicine
Hat riding.
Before I began my candidacy, I went to Jason Kenney’s assistant (a fine man I respect) and asked a simple
question - if I ran for the Brooks Medicine Hat nomination would the UCP party sign off on my nomination? He
recommended that I speak with Jeff Henwood (in the party’s candidacy group) which I did. I disclosed
everything to Jeff which I thought could be considered contentious. After talking with Jeff and giving him
disclosure he encouraged me to run and said "if the people of Brooks Medicine Hat support you, the party will
sign off on your candidacy". I subsequently went through several additional vetting processes - one in writing, a
45 page declaration which included an RCMP security background check and another which was an in person
interview with the Medicine Hat UCP nomination committee which Jeff Henwood attended via telephone. Every
question which was asked of me was answered truthfully, completely and without filter.
The nomination election in Brooks Medicine Hat has seen several instances of broken rules and top down
party control. As a riding we were supposed to have three thousand dollars in the bank before a nomination
election was called but this didn’t happen. It was the recommendation of the CA board to hold the election after
harvest because many in our community were in the fields and had little time for politics over the farming
seasons. The expectation was that our riding would be holding the nomination campaign in the fall. It was
subsequently dictated to us by the party that the candidacy process, campaign and election was to be called
suddenly and given little more than four weeks to be concluded. This gave a major advantage to the
nomination contestant who had declared her candidacy and been campaigning since March since no one else
had even filed their nomination papers when the writ was dropped. This candidate is also obviously the choice
of well established people within the party and several sitting MLA’s. I can humbly but confidently say that with
my resume, experience and proven ability I would give the party an excellent chance of winning the riding in
the upcoming provincial election and be able to fulfill the duties of MLA. I would put my qualifications up
against any new nomination candidate in the province and feel that very few could match them.
Despite being disadvantaged by the timing of the election I'm comfortable in saying that I'm poised to easily
win this nomination election which concludes on Tuesday. I was astonished and somewhat taken aback by
how deep, broad and strong the level of commitment and support is to me in the riding. My campaign has
handily outsold the combined new UCP memberships of both of my competitors even though one had started
campaigning in March. There has been a huge groundswell of support for me throughout the riding. I'm also
told I won the debates hands down.
3
However, I recently received a letter from Janice Harrington, executive director of the UCP party, notifying me
that I am being disqualified from the race because of Facebook posts I made long before my candidacy critical
of Joe Ceci and Marg McQuaig (I said that they needed to be put in jail) and posts which were critical of Islam
and its need for political reformation. I’m currently appealing that ruling. In these posts I stated that I stand with
oppressed women and children and do not accept Sharia law in Canada. I stand by these posts. I don’t
believe most Albertans feel that these topics are especially controversial as I notice them written regularly by
columnists in the mainstream daily paper I read, the Calgary Sun. I’ve had these same discussions with
numerous UCP supporters and even the leaders of the large Islamic immigrant community in Brooks and they
have no qualms endorsing my candidacy. Also, to be very clear, I disclosed this information before my
candidacy, then in writing and verbally during the vetting process.
I'm devastated that the party I support is not supporting reasonable free speech. I'm devastated to find out that
"the old boys club" is starting to be perceived by the public as alive and well in the UCP party hierarchy. We’ve
received some negative press about this same perception during other recent nomination contests. It’s a big
part of why the NDP is in power now. I'm devastated to learn that in spite of Mr. Kenney's words about grass
roots being the driver of the party it doesn’t seem to always be the case. The committee that decides the fate
of the nomination candidates is a small inside group and so far I have not even been able to defend myself to
that committee. It has been made clear throughout the campaign that in every community in the riding the
people strongly want me as their representative. This is what grass roots means.
Alberta has had a long tradition of freedom and acceptance of opinions. It’s part of what makes us distinct and
has made us such a successful province. I would hate to see Alberta lose such an essential part of our culture.
There’s a reason why newspapers like the Calgary Eye Opener, magazines like Alberta Report and politicians
like Ralph Klein have been so popular in Alberta despite some outspoken opinions. The party needs to have
some faith in Albertans and our tradition of being tolerant of people voicing opinions and being proud of that
tolerance.
I've been working hard for Albertans through campaigns that I have spearheaded myself such as Carbon Tax
rallies, the Stop The Shock campaign and putting on leadership candidate forums during the recent UCP
leadership race. I’ve given freely and generously of my time and effort for the party through the unification
process, the party leadership campaign, sitting on constituency association boards, fundraising and helping to
draft policies for the recent AGM and Policy Convention. I’ve strongly and proudly supported our leader, Jason
Kenney, throughout the leadership campaign, knocking on countless doors in Calgary during his election
campaign, and organizing others to attend various rallies and functions he has been at. I have supported the
conservative movement like few have.
This party is part of this country’s strong democratic traditions and institutions. I am asking that you give me the
opportunity to appear during an appeal as with any other judiciary process in a free country.
Sincerely,
Todd Beasley
4
APPENDIX B
5
APPENDIX C
Jason Kenney advocates rigorous candidate screening for new Alberta conservative party
DEAN BENNETT
EDMONTON
THE CANADIAN PRESS
PUBLISHED JUNE 19, 2017
UPDATED JUNE 19, 2017
Alberta Progressive Conservative Leader Jason Kenney says he will push for a rigorous screening of
prospective candidates of any new conservative party to spike election-derailing "bozo eruptions."
"Let's be honest about this," Kenney said Monday at a town hall meeting with 350 people at a hotel in St.
Albert, north of the Alberta capital.
"I've heard it every day for the past year — every single day — I've heard about the one or two bozo eruptions
that have imposed a lasting brand problem on the Wildrose party. And we cannot afford that to happen to this
new party."
Kenney said the federal Conservatives already have a protocol for candidates, with criminal record checks, a
review of public and online comments, and one-on-one interviews.
"I will propose a rigorous screening process for prospective candidates to red light those who have advocated
truly hateful views or who have serious reputational problems," he said.
While he said he respects free speech, joining a political party carries a broad responsibility to others.
"When you step in (into the political arena), especially as a representative of a political party, you have to
demonstrate a degree of discipline," he said.
"Because otherwise one person's crazy remarks can tarnish a party made up of hundreds of thousands of
people.
"We will never let that happen again. We can't let that happen again," he concluded, to applause.
The Wildrose saw a strong campaign tumble into the ditch in the 2012 election after then-leader Danielle Smith
refused to sanction a candidate for his online comments warning gays and lesbians to repent or face an
afterlife in hell's "lake of fire."
Kenney and Wildrose Leader Brian Jean are currently touring the province to drum up support for a proposed
plan to merge the PCs and the Wildrose into the new United Conservative Party.
Both say vote splitting among Conservatives will guarantee another win in 2019 by Premier Rachel Notley's
NDP.
They say NDP economic policies and initiatives like a new carbon tax are making Alberta's faltering oil-based
economy much worse for working families.
6
Members of both parties will vote on the proposed merger July 22.
The PCs need a simple majority to ratify the merger while the Wildrose side needs more than 75 per cent.
Should it pass, both sides will then create joint committees to set policy, create constituency associations, and
set the terms of a leadership vote in October.
Both Jean and Kenney have already said they will run to be leader. Calgary lawyer Doug Schweitzer has also
announced a leadership bid.

UCP-Beasley Correspondence July 14

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We acknowledge the right of individuals in a free society to make controversial, even

“I will propose a rigorous screening process for prospective candidates to red

From: Todd Beasley

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