Reynolds excited by UA vote The next year will see growing interest across the country in a United Alternative, leading to a leadership convention which will likely be held next June, according to West Vancouver-Sunshine Coast MP John Reynolds. Reynolds was one of 14 British Columbia Reform MPs who supported Preston Manning’s United Alternative initiative at last week’s convention in Ottawa. Just over 60 per cent of Reform party members who voted last week supported a plan to create a bigger, truly national coalition party that will appeal to right-leaning voters across the country. Only half of the Reform party’s nearly 70,000 members cast their mail-in ballots, but Reynolds defended the numbers. "(Progressive Conservative leader) Joe Clark didn’t get 50 per cent of Tories out for his leadership vote," Reynolds said. "The man’s always had trouble with numbers. I think he’ll be left behind. I think there will be a lot of excitement in the next year." Reynolds said there is a great deal of interest among rank and file Progressive Conservative party members in the United Alternative initiative, including in Ontario, where Reform does not hold any seats. He said a lot of people who worked for Ontario Premier Mike Harris in the recent provincial election will be working for Reform in the next federal election. "I don’t see the federal Tories going anywhere in Canada," Reynolds said. He also dismissed the compromise option some people have suggested which would see the Tories and Reform agreeing to run only one candidate between the two parties in each riding, to prevent splitting the right wing vote. Reynolds said he was "very excited" by last week’s vote to follow the United Alternative initiative and feels the Reform caucus is now moving forward. There will be eight Reform policy committees holding meetings across the country in the next year, which Reynolds says will help bring people together. As well, the executive of the party will likely announce the date of the next Reform assembly in about 10 days and a date for the next convention should be announced soon. As for possible leaders of a new United Alternative party, Reynolds said names that may surface include Alberta Treasurer Stockwell Day, Ontario Transport Minister Tony Clements, Manning and possibly even Ontario Premier Harris. Reynolds said he continues to support Manning.
