Alberta’s Premier Redford gets strong support in PC party leadership review

RED DEER, Alta. – Alberta Premier Alison Redford has received a strong vote of confidence from members of her Progressive Conservative party.

Delegates voted 77 per cent in favour of Redford’s leadership in secret balloting at the party’s annual general meeting in Red Deer.

The number means there will not be a leadership race to replace her.

The approximately 1,200 delegates who voted included past and present legislature members, youth delegates and 15 representatives from each of the 87 constituency associations.

The internal party vote, required within two years after an election win, has become a contentious issue ever since then-premier Ralph Klein received just 55 per cent support in 2006 and quit the job soon after.

Heading into the vote, Redford never said what she considered what would be an acceptable number.