{{Infobox political party | name = Freedom Conservative Party of Alberta | native_name = | logo = Freedom Conservative Party of Alberta logo.png | logo_size = 225px | leader = David White (interim) | president = Bill Jones | spokesperson = | leader1_title = | leader1_name = | foundation = June 22, 2018 {{small|(as Freedom Conservative)}} | dissolution = July 23, 2020 | merger = | split = | predecessor = Alberta First Party | merged = Wildrose Independence Party of Alberta | successor = | headquarters = Edmonton, Alberta | ideology = Right-libertarianism<ref name="CBC News">{{cite news |title=Bernier talks equalization and pipelines at Calgary 'Equality or Independence' rally |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calgary/bernier-equalization-pipelines-fidebrandt-calgary-1.4994689 |access-date=February 27, 2019 |work=CBC News |date=January 26, 2019 |language=en}}</ref><br />Fiscal conservatism<br />Alberta autonomism<ref name="CBC News"/> | position = Right-wing | national = | international = | student_wing = | youth_wing = | membership = 2,000 | membership_year = | colours = Dark blue and red<br />{{color box|darkblue}} {{color box|red}} | colors = | colorcode = {{Canadian party colour|AB|FCP}} | blank1_title = Fiscal policy | blank1 = | blank2_title = Social policy | blank2 = | seats1_title = Seats in the House of Commons | seats1 = | seats2_title = Seats in the Senate | seats2 = | seats3_title = Seats in Legislature | seats3 = | website = | country = Canada | state = Alberta | parties_dab1 = List of political parties in Alberta | elections_dab1 = List of Alberta general elections | footnotes = }}
The '''Freedom Conservative Party of Alberta''' ({{langx|fr|Parti de la liberté conservatrice de l'Alberta}}) was an Albertan autonomist, libertarian and conservative political party in Alberta, Canada.<ref name=":0">{{Cite news|url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calgary/alberta-derek-fildebrandt-freedom-conservative-party-alberta-1.4752653|title=Derek Fildebrandt to launch Freedom Conservative Party of Alberta {{!}} CBC News|work=CBC|access-date=2018-07-25|language=en-US}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite news|url=https://calgaryherald.com/news/local-news/new-freedom-conservative-party-not-separatist-rather-alberta-patriots-fildebrandt|title=New Freedom Conservative Party not separatist, rather 'Alberta patriots': Fildebrandt|date=2018-07-20|work=Calgary Herald|access-date=2018-07-25|language=en-US}}</ref>
The party was named the '''Alberta First Party''' ({{langx|fr|Alberta d'abord}}) from 1999 to 2004, when it changed its name to the '''Separation Party of Alberta''' ({{langx|fr|Parti de la Séparation de l'Alberta}}). In 2013, it reverted to Alberta First.<ref name="Elections Alberta">{{cite web|url=http://www.elections.ab.ca/Public%20Website/603.cfm|title=Elections Alberta|access-date=26 February 2019|archive-date=18 January 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120118025326/http://www.elections.ab.ca/Public%20Website/603.cfm|url-status=dead}}</ref> In April 2018, it became the '''Western Freedom Party of Alberta''' ({{langx|fr|Parti de la liberté de l'Ouest de l'Alberta}}).<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.elections.ab.ca/parties-and-candidates/parties/|title=Parties {{!}} Elections Alberta|work=Elections Alberta|access-date=2018-05-04|language=en-US}}</ref> On June 22, 2018, it was announced that the Western Freedom Party had changed to its present name.<ref name=":0" />
On April 27, 2020, the party announced plans to merge with Wexit Alberta and for a new party called the Wildrose Independence Party of Alberta.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Mertz |first1=Emily |title=FCP and Wexit members to vote on merging into Wildrose Independence Party of Alberta |url=https://globalnews.ca/news/6873839/alberta-politics-fcp-wexit-vote-unite |work=Global News |date= April 27, 2020 |access-date=April 27, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Antoneshyn |first1=Alex |title=Union between Wexit, Freedom Conservative parties on the table |url=https://www.ctvnews.ca/edmonton/article/union-between-wexit-freedom-conservative-parties-on-the-table/ |work=CTV News |date= April 27, 2020 |access-date=April 27, 2020}}</ref> Members of both parties voted to approve the merger on June 29, 2020.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Labby |first=Bryan |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calgary/wexit-alberta-wildrose-independence-party-merger-freedom-conservative-vote-1.5633172 |title=Wexit Alberta and Freedom Conservative Party vote to merge as Wildrose Independence Party of Alberta |date=June 30, 2020 |work=CBC News |access-date=July 3, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Naylor |first=Dave |date=June 29, 2020 |title=The 'Wildrose' is back: FCP & Wexit members vote to form new party |url=https://www.westernstandardonline.com/2020/06/fcp-wexit-members-vote-to-form-new-party |work=Western Standard |access-date=July 3, 2020 |archive-date=July 2, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200702090720/https://www.westernstandardonline.com/2020/06/fcp-wexit-members-vote-to-form-new-party/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> In July 2020, Wildrose Independence Party of Alberta was officially registered with Elections Alberta, giving effect to the merger.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Naylor |first=Dave |date=July 17, 2020 |title=WIP gets official status from Elections Alberta |url=https://www.westernstandardonline.com/2020/07/wip-gets-official-status-from-elections-alberta |work=Western Standard |access-date=July 30, 2020 |archive-date=July 24, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200724203810/https://www.westernstandardonline.com/2020/07/wip-gets-official-status-from-elections-alberta/ |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2020 |title=Parties |url=https://www.elections.ab.ca/parties-and-candidates/parties |work=Elections Alberta |access-date=July 30, 2020 |archive-date=July 28, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200728133144/https://www.elections.ab.ca/parties-and-candidates/parties/ |url-status=dead }}</ref>
== MLAs == The party had one member, Derek Fildebrandt, in the Alberta Legislature prior to the 2019 Alberta general election.
== Beliefs == According to the founding documents<ref>{{cite web |title=Freedom Conservative Party Founding Documents |url=https://www.freedomconservativeparty.ca/principles |website=Freedom Conservative Party |publisher=Freedom Conservative Party |access-date=21 February 2019 |archive-date=10 December 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181210110825/https://www.freedomconservativeparty.ca/principles |url-status=dead }}</ref> the main objectives of the party were as follows: # Autonomy for Alberta # Freedom for Alberta # Responsibility for Alberta's government.
The Freedom Conservative Party advocates for an autonomous Alberta within a United Canada and is libertarian, and fiscally conservative in its leanings. For example, the parties founding documents call for the government to "pass no law to protect two consenting adults from themselves" and "abolish unnecessary controls over the economy".<ref>{{cite web |title=Freedom Conservative Party Principles |url=https://www.freedomconservativeparty.ca/principles |publisher=Freedom Conservative Party |access-date=21 February 2019 |archive-date=10 December 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181210110825/https://www.freedomconservativeparty.ca/principles |url-status=dead }}</ref>
Fiscally the founding document lays out that Alberta should "collect no more revenue than is needed and spend no more revenue than is required".<ref name="FCP website">{{cite web |title=Freedom Conservative Party Founding Documents |url=https://www.freedomconservativeparty.ca/principles |website=Freedom Conservative Party Principles |access-date=21 February 2019 |archive-date=10 December 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181210110825/https://www.freedomconservativeparty.ca/principles |url-status=dead }}</ref>
== History == The Freedom Conservative Party took over the legal shell of the former Alberta First Party. After changing its name to the Freedom Conservative Party of Alberta on June 22, 2018, it gained its first MLA after Derek Fildebrandt changed his affiliation from Independent Conservative and crossed the floor after being barred from running as a candidate for the United Conservative Party.
He was appointed interim leader, pending a vote. During the announcement of the new party, Fildebrandt stated that it is not a separatist party but rather, its members were "conservatives, libertarians and Alberta patriots".<ref> {{Cite news|url=https://calgaryherald.com/opinion/columnists/braid-derek-fildebrandt-is-back-with-his-own-political-pickup |title=Braid: Fildebrandt's new party earns ferocious response from Kenney |last=Braid |first=Don |date=July 19, 2018 |work=Calgary Herald}}</ref><ref name=":1" />
It plans to run candidates in conservative strongholds, such as rural Alberta. Fildebrandt has stated he intends to avoid placing candidates in ridings where he believes the incumbent governing New Democratic Party would have a chance of winning in case of a split in the conservative vote.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/article-derek-fildebrandt-formally-launches-alberta-freedom-conservative-party/|title=Derek Fildebrandt formally launches Alberta Freedom Conservative Party|access-date=2018-09-16 |work=The Globe and Mail }}</ref>
== Leadership election == The party's first convention under the Freedom Party name was held in Chestermere and first leadership race since 1999 was held on October 20, 2018.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.freedomconservativeparty.ca/convention|title=Convention - Freedom Conservative Party}}</ref> Interim leader Derek Fildebrandt was the only leadership candidate, and therefore was acclaimed as leader.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://calgaryherald.com/news/politics/derek-fildebrandt-acclaimed-as-leader-of-new-freedom-conservative-party|title=Derek Fildebrandt acclaimed as leader of new Freedom Conservative Party}}</ref> After the 2019 Alberta General Election and resignation of Derek Fildebrandt, David White was elected on the second ballot as Interim Leader of the Freedom Conservative Party at a party meeting in Calgary on May 4, 2019. Three candidates were on the ballot. {{Infobox leadership election | party = Freedom Conservative Party of Alberta | colour = {{Canadian party colour|AB|Alberta First}} | year = 2018 | logo = | date = October 20, 2018 | location = Camp Chestermere, Chestermere | winner = Derek Fildebrandt ''(acclaimed)'' | ballots = | replaces = | numcands = 1 | entryfee = | spendcap = }}
== Election results == {{Update section|date=January 2026|reason=Results must be available by now}} The 30th Alberta general election which will be held in 2019 is the Freedom Conservative Parties first contested election in its current form.
{| class="sortable wikitable" style="text-align: right;" |- ! Election ! Leader ! Seats ! Change ! Place ! Votes ! % ! Position |- ! 2019 | align="left"| Derek Fildebrandt | {{Composition bar|0|87|hex={{Canadian party colour|AB|FCP}}}} ! {{decrease}} 1 ! {{decrease}} 6th | '''8,982''' | '''0.54%''' | {{eliminated|No seats}} |}
In the Alberta 2019 election, the party is so far confirmed to be running the following candidates in the following ridings:
* Derek Fildebrandt (Leader) in Chestermere-Strathmore<ref name="Candidates">{{cite web |title=Freedom Conservative Party Candidates |url=https://www.freedomconservativeparty.ca/candidates |website=Freedom Conservative Party |access-date=21 February 2019}}</ref> * Matthew Morrisey in Airdrie-Cochrane<ref name="Candidates"/> * Rick Northey in Airdrie-East<ref name="Candidates"/> * Regina Shakirova in Calgary-Bow<ref name="Candidates"/> * Kari Pomerleau in Calgary-Foothills<ref name="Candidates"/> * Dejan Ristic in Calgary-Glenmore<ref name="Candidates"/> * Sheyne Espey in Calgary-Peigan<ref name="Candidates"/> * Cam Khan in Calgary-North West<ref name="Candidates"/> * Rio Aiello in Calgary-West<ref name="Candidates"/> * Wesley Caldwell in Camrose<ref name="Candidates"/> * Steve Goodman in Drayton Valley-Devon<ref name="Candidates"/> * Jason Norris in Edmonton-Whitemud<ref name="Candidates"/> * Malcolm Stinson in Fort Saskatchewan-Vegreville<ref name="auto">{{cite web |title=Elections Alberta Nomination Contestants |url=http://efpublic.elections.ab.ca/efNCParty.cfm?MID=NCP_11&PID=11&BOUNDARYYEAR=2019 |website=Elections Alberta |access-date=21 February 2019}}</ref> * Bernard Hancock in Grande Prairie (provincial electoral district)<ref name="Candidates"/> * Chad Miller in Innisfail-Sylvan Lake<ref name="Candidates"/> * Jeff Rout in Leduc-Beaumont<ref name="Candidates"/> * Keith Parrill in Lacombe-Ponoka<ref name="Candidates"/> * David White in Maskwacis-Wetaskiwin<ref name="Candidates"/> * Allen Maclennan in Olds-Didsbury-Three Hills<ref name="Candidates"/> * Connie Russell in Peace River (provincial electoral district)<ref name="Candidates"/> * Matt Chapin in Red Deer North<ref name="Candidates"/> * Teah-Jay Cartwright in Red Deer South<ref name="Candidates"/> * Dawn Berard in Rimbey-Rocky Mountain House-Sundre<ref name="Candidates"/> * Jim McKinnon in Vermilion-Lloydminster-Wainwright<ref name="Candidates"/>
== Leadership history == {| class="wikitable" ! ! Name ! Date ! Notes |-
|- | {{Canadian party colour|AB|Alberta First|background}} | | Derek Fildebrandt | 2018–2019 | Changed party name to Freedom Conservative Party in June 2018. |- | {{Canadian party colour|AB|Alberta First|background}} | | David White (interim) | 2019–2020 | Elected May 4, 2019 on second ballot. Contested with three candidates. |}
== See also == {{portal|Conservatism}} * Alberta separatism * Western alienation
== References == {{reflist}}
== External links == * [https://www.freedomconservativeparty.ca/ Freedom Conservative Party of Alberta website]
{{Alberta provincial political parties}} {{Alberta politics}} {{Canadian Conservative Parties}}
Category:Freedom Conservative Party of Alberta Category:Provincial political parties in Alberta Category:Autonomy Category:Conservative parties in Canada Category:Libertarian conservative parties Category:Political parties established in 1999 Category:1999 establishments in Alberta Category:Right-libertarianism