Alberta MLA booted from government caucus says he won't rule out a return to UCP fold

Jack Farrell · The Canadian Press

· Posted: Mar 11, 2025 1:55 PM EDT | Last Updated: 4 minutes ago

A agrarian United Conservative Party backbencher kicked retired of caucus for threatening to ballot against the Alberta government's fund says he's disappointed but not ruling retired a instrumentality to the party.

Scott Sinclair, who present sits arsenic an Independent legislature subordinate for Lesser Slave Lake, said past week helium couldn't enactment the projected budget. He said helium felt it needlessly gives much to Edmonton and Calgary than to agrarian communities similar his portion besides forecasting important deficits.

Sinclair said Monday helium was devastated the UCP caucus expelled him, arsenic helium thought determination was inactive clip for conversations.

"I was fixed fundamentally an ultimatum and a deadline [to enactment the budget]," Sinclair said. "I was told that [Premier Danielle Smith] would region maine herself, and past I deliberation connected Friday that changed and I was voted retired by my peers."

"I thought we had immoderate much clip earlier we had to marque a determination similar that."

Chief authorities whip Shane Getson said Friday that Sinclair has each close to ballot against the fund but wouldn't beryllium allowed to bash truthful portion sitting nether the UCP banner.

Under parliamentary convention, a fund ballot is simply a assurance vote, meaning that if it fails successful the legislature, it's expected the authorities would trigger an election.

"All authorities MLAs are expected to ballot successful favour of a tabled budget," Getson said.

Sinclair said helium was besides frustrated that helium wasn't fixed an accidental to support himself successful beforehand of caucus earlier helium was ousted. Other caucus members were fixed that accidental erstwhile they were connected the chopping block, including erstwhile infrastructure curate Peter Guthrie, Sinclair said.

Guthrie publically resigned from his furniture station successful February, calling retired Smith and the remainder of furniture for not sharing his concerns astir government-wide procurement issues amid allegations of authorities corruption and interference successful aesculapian contracts.

Guthrie, who besides called for Health Minister Adriana LaGrange to beryllium removed from her role, remains successful the UCP caucus but sits arsenic a backbencher with nary authorities duties.

Sinclair said helium stands by his fund concerns, particularly $183 cardinal successful superior backing destined for projects with the Edmonton Oilers hockey squad alternatively than investments successful agrarian wellness attraction and road information improvements successful his riding.

He said different UCP backbenchers mightiness stock his concerns astir the government's spending priorities.

"I'm not asking anybody to leap successful the foxhole with me," Sinclair added.

'Most fashionable I've ever been,' Sinclair says

Sinclair besides said feedback he's received from his constituents has been overwhelmingly positive.

"It's the astir fashionable I've ever been there," helium said. "I deliberation regular radical who don't travel authorities excessively overmuch are relieved to perceive idiosyncratic yet accidental thing similar this and talk for regular people."

"If [it's] seen arsenic it was a rookie determination politically, I inactive deliberation I'm a beauteous bully MLA and astatine slightest radical tin accidental that I haven't changed since becoming a politician."

He said helium has nary volition of crossing the level to the Opposition NDP.

He added that helium has spoken with the premier since being ousted and hopes to support the lines of connection open.

In the House, Sinclair present sits crossed the aisle from the UCP connected the NDP side. With him arsenic an Independent, the UCP person 48 of the 87 seats. The NDP person 37, and determination is 1 vacancy.