Rimbey-Rocky Mountain House MLA Joe Anglin has quit the Wildrose Party, a move he does not regret making.
“I’m relieved, actually,” he said. “They have lost sight of what got us to this point. They’ve drifted off, it’s a denial.”
Anglin doesn’t believe leader Danielle Smith is the problem, but sees the Party, itself, as deviating from its original values and policies, and blames the party executive for not keeping Wildrose on a straight and narrow political path.
“I think she (Danielle Smith) is a decent person without a doubt, though we’re not communicating well,” he said, adding Smith had plans to oust him from caucus, before he decided to resign.
Anglin said he had heard from the Party Whip that he was to be asked to leave the Wildrose caucus at Sunday’s meeting.
“I was preparing my defense late Saturday night and the thought came to me this is a wasted effort.”
Anglin said he does not get involved with the fighting which he claims is going on inside the Party.
“I just chuckle when I hear that I am the cause of the infighting.”
Looking back, he says he is proud that during his time as an MLA he was involved in seeing Rimoka get the funding for the proposed senior’s lodge, played a role in the flood mitigation in Sundre and was working towards securing a new hospital for Rocky Mountain House.
“I am very proud of the work I do. I do it very well.”
His decision to leave the Wildrose Party means there is a “whole new ball game,” happening, he said.
“I’m a free agent now. I have more freedom to advocate on behalf of my constituents.”
In July, Anglin, who is a former leader of Alberta’s Green party, lost a nomination race to former constituency president Jason Nixon.