Alberta legislature member Sinclair disappointed but not ruling out return to UCP

EDMONTON — A rural United Conservative Party backbencher kicked out of caucus for threatening to vote against the Alberta government’s budget says he’s disappointed but not ruling out a return to the party.

Scott Sinclair, who now sits as an Independent legislature member for Lesser Slave Lake, said last week he couldn’t support the proposed budget. He said he felt it needlessly gives more to Edmonton and Calgary than rural communities like his while also forecasting significant deficits.

Sinclair said Monday he was devastated the UCP caucus expelled him, as he thought there was still time for conversations.

“I was given basically an ultimatum and a deadline (to support the budget),” Sinclair said. “I was told that (Premier Danielle Smith) would remove me herself, and then I think on Friday that changed and I was voted out by my peers.”

“I thought we had some more time before we had to make a decision like that.”

Chief government whip Shane Getson said Friday that Sinclair has every right to vote against the budget but wouldn’t be allowed to do so while sitting under the UCP banner.

Under parliamentary convention, a budget vote is a confidence vote, meaning that if it fails in the legislature, it’s expected the government would trigger an election.

“All government MLAs are expected to vote in favour of a tabled budget,” Getson said.

Sinclair said he was also frustrated that he wasn’t given an opportunity to defend himself in front of caucus before he was ousted. Other caucus members when they were on the chopping block, including former infrastructure minister Peter Guthrie, were given that chance, Sinclair said.

Guthrie publicly resigned from his cabinet post in February, calling out Smith and the rest of cabinet for not sharing his concerns about government-wide procurement issues amid allegations of government corruption and interference in medical contracts.

Guthrie, who also called for Health Minister Adriana LaGrange to be removed from her role, remains in the UCP caucus but sits as a backbencher with no government duties.

Sinclair said he stands by his budget concerns, especially $183 million in capital funding destined for projects with the Edmonton Oilers hockey team rather than investments in rural health care and highway safety improvements in his riding.

He said other UCP backbenchers might share his concerns about the government’s spending priorities.

“I’m not asking anybody to jump in the fox hole with me,” Sinclair added.

“If I do vote against this budget, I fully expect to be the only (UCP legislature member) who does.”

Sinclair also said feedback he’s received from his constituents has been overwhelmingly positive.

“It’s the most popular I’ve ever been there,” he said. “I think regular people who don’t follow politics too much are relieved to hear somebody finally say something like this and speak for regular people.”

“If (it’s) seen as it was a rookie move politically, I still think I’m a pretty good MLA and at least people can say that I haven’t changed since becoming a politician.”

He said he has no intention of crossing the floor to the Opposition NDP.

He added that he has spoken with the premier since being ousted and hopes to keep the lines of communication open.

In the house, Sinclair now sits across the aisle from the UCP on the NDP side. With him as an Independent, the UCP have 48 of the 87 seats. The NDP have 37, and there is one vacancy.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published March 10, 2025.

Jack Farrell, The Canadian Press