How a conservative Alberta political party rose to prominence and eventually dissolved into history

Countries & Cities · Published 15 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: Formed in 2008, the Wildrose Party transformed from a fringe movement into Alberta's official opposition. Despite its rapid growth and polling leads, the party faced internal turmoil, mass floor-crossings, and a complex legal journey that eventually led to its formal dissolution and merger into a new conservative entity.

The Wildrose Party emerged in early 2008 through the merger of the Alberta Alliance Party and an unregistered group. Initially struggling to gain traction, the party found momentum in 2009 as public frustration with the governing Progressive Conservatives grew. Under the leadership of Danielle Smith, elected in October 2009, the party experienced a surge in membership, growing from 1,800 members in June to over 13,000 by December. By late 2009, some polls placed the Wildrose ahead of all other provincial parties, signaling a potential shift in Alberta's political landscape.

Despite high expectations for the 2012 election, the Wildrose failed to win government, though it secured the role of official opposition. The party's trajectory shifted dramatically in December 2014 when Smith and eight other MLAs defected to the Progressive Conservatives. This mass floor-crossing left the party in a weakened state, yet it managed to win 21 seats in the 2015 election under new leader Brian Jean, even as the Progressive Conservatives collapsed. The party's focus on fiscal conservatism and government reform remained central to its identity throughout these years.

The final chapter of the Wildrose began in 2017 when members voted overwhelmingly to merge with the Progressive Conservatives to form the United Conservative Party. Because Alberta law at the time did not allow for formal party mergers, the Wildrose maintained a nominal existence, running a single paper candidate in the 2019 election to protect its assets. Following the passage of new legislation by the UCP government, the Wildrose Party was officially dissolved on February 7, 2020, marking the end of its twelve-year history in provincial politics.

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