2015 Wildrose Party leadership election
The 2015 Wildrose Party leadership election was triggered December 17, 2014, following the decision by leader Danielle Smith and eight other MLAs to leave the Wildrose Party and cross the floor to join the ruling Progressive Conservative Association of Alberta (PCs). The party announced the next day that it would appoint an interim leader and hold an election to choose a permanent leader in 2015. Former Conservative Party of Canada Member of Parliament Brian Jean was elected leader over two other candidates on March 28, 2015. Under the party's constitution, within 15 days of  Smith's resignation, it had to set a date for party members to choose a new permanent leader. Smith tendered her resignation on the morning of December 17, 2014. In a letter to the party's executive, Smith recommended that party members vote on a "reunification resolution" to merge with the PCs as soon as possible, a course of action that the executive rejected. The party's constitution also stipulates that the leadership election had to be held between three and nine months after the position becomes open, in this case between March and September 2015. Each candidate had to  pay a non-refundable $20,000 deposit and receive endorsement signatures from 250 party members. The party executive announced on January 23, 2015 that the election was to be held on June 6, 2015 and that party members will be able to vote in person at venues around the province or by mail-in ballot; results were to be announced at the Coast Plaza Hotel in Calgary. Voting was by means of a ranked ballot. Originally, voters were required to rank all three candidates however, due to objections, this was changed to allow voters to rank either one, two, or  all three candidates. However, due to the likelihood of an early provincial election, the date of the leadership vote was moved up with the vote to be conducted by a telephone ballot in a 12-day period from March 16 to 28, 2015 with results announced at the Sheraton Cavalier in Calgary. MLA (Cypress-Medicine Hat 2012–present), realtor and businessman by trade. Lawyer and former Conservative MP (Athabasca, 2004-2006; Fort McMurray—Athabasca, 2006-2014), Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities (2006-2011). Former mayor of Strathcona County (2010-2013), Wildrose nominee for Sherwood Park  in the next election, registered nurse by profession. Results. "Turnout was 34.5%"