The Take Back Alberta movement was founded by right-wing
activist David Parker last year in protest against pandemic-era
public health restrictions and aims to get more people involved
in politics.
"For too long, Alberta's ruling elite have taken advantage
of everyday people, thriving on political apathy, censoring
those with the courage to speak out, and exploiting the power of
big government to restrict our freedoms," the organization says
on its website.
Its chief financial officer is Marco van Huigenbos, one of
the organizers of the Coutts border blockade during Canada's
vaccine mandate protests last year.
Take Back Alberta claims credit for toppling Alberta's
previous premier Jason Kenney. It also helped Smith win the
leadership race, holds at least half the seats on the UCP board
of directors and controls a number of local constituency
associations, political analysts said.
Take Back Alberta did not immediately respond to a request
for comment.
Dave Cournoyer, an Alberta political commentator who runs
the popular Daveberta website, said between at least eight and
12 UCP candidates out of 87 in total are backed by Take Back
Alberta.
"The type of politics that group brings with it is creating a very different type of conservative party than many Albertans are used to," Cournoyer said. "It could deter some moderate conservatives."
Meanwhile, the NDP has tried to field candidates with
expertise in business or local politics, particularly in
competitive seats in Alberta's corporate oil capital Calgary,
instead of more typical left-wing candidates like union shop
stewards and environmental activists, according to political
commentators.
Lori Williams, a political science professor at Calgary's
Mount Royal University, said "the quality of candidates"
wouldn't matter for diehard UCP voters. But it will make a
difference to "folks that are already concerned about some of
the things Smith has said and done."
(Reporting by Nia Williams; Editing by Denny Thomas and
Jonathan Oatis)
