The Progressive Tory Party in Alberta has put forth its inaugural candidate and is gearing up for the upcoming Calgary-Shaw byelection. Headed by Peter Guthrie, the provincial party rebranded from the dormant Alberta Party last year. Guthrie, a former UCP MLA and cabinet minister, now represents the Progressive Tory Party in the Alberta legislature.
Bonnie Critchley, a retired Canadian Armed Forces member who contested against Pierre Poilievre in the August 2025 federal byelection in Battle River-Crowfoot, has been nominated as the Progressive Tory candidate in the Camrose riding. Despite Poilievre clinching 81% of the vote in the federal byelection, Critchley secured second place with 9.8% of the votes.
Critchley, in an interview with CBC News, revealed that she had no initial plans to reenter politics after challenging Poilievre’s candidacy in a disconnected riding. However, she felt compelled to act after the UCP government swiftly passed a bill to end the teachers’ strike last fall, utilizing the notwithstanding clause to shield the legislation from legal challenges.
Expressing concern over the erosion of Albertans’ rights, Critchley decided, albeit reluctantly, to enter the political arena for the 2027 provincial election after discussions with Guthrie. She emphasized the importance of upholding accountability and combating corruption as key priorities for the Progressive Tory Party.
Guthrie, expelled from the UCP caucus for advocating a public inquiry into procurement practices at Alberta Health Services, later spearheaded the revival of the Progressive Conservative Party under the new Progressive Tory Party banner. The government’s legislation banning certain words in new political party names prompted Guthrie to adopt “tory” in place of “conservative.”
Guthrie has been actively establishing the party’s infrastructure, including constituency associations, with plans to nominate additional candidates in the forthcoming weeks. The Progressive Tory Party aims to field candidates in all 91 constituencies for the fall 2027 provincial election and intends to participate in the Calgary-Shaw byelection following Rebecca Schulz’s resignation.
Despite concerns about vote-splitting favoring the NDP, both Guthrie and Critchley dismissed such claims, citing the necessity of providing a distinct political alternative. Emphasizing a commitment to upholding Alberta’s unity within Canada, Critchley expressed confidence in the majority of Camrose voters opposing separatism.
Shannon Phillips, a former NDP MLA, highlighted potential challenges for the Progressive Tories in carving out a clear identity beyond being an alternative to the UCP. Phillips underscored the importance of a focused brand message to resonate with voters and differentiate the party from existing political options.
Guthrie remains optimistic about the Progressive Tory Party’s potential impact on Alberta’s political landscape, emphasizing the dynamic nature of politics and the need for readiness to capitalize on changing circumstances. Critchley echoed the sentiment, calling for voters to support representation aligned with their values and ideals rather than voting out of fear.