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quitting politics

Alberta Freedom Conservative Party leader Derek Fildebrandt resigns

Apr 30, 2019 | 8:33 AM

EDMONTON- Derek Fildebrandt is stepping down as leader of Alberta’s Freedom Conservative Party.

Fildebrandt announced his resignation Monday, less than a year after he launched the party following his departure from the United Conservative Party.

He says he expects an interim party leader to be named within a week, but no date has been set for a leadership vote.

The Freedom Conservatives nominated 24 candidates for the April 16 provincial election but failed to win a seat, including Fildebrandt’s home constituency of Chestermere-Strathmore, where he received less than 10 per cent of the vote.

Fildebrandt attributes the poor results to the party’s youth, ineligibility to take part in the leader’s debate, and to a campaign he believes presented only two options to voters.

He told CTV’s Alberta Primetime that he will remain a voice in provincial politics and is not looking at a run at the federal level.

(CTV Edmonton-The Canadian Press)