Wildrose Party Leader Brian Jean Photographed with Aryan Guard/Blood & Honour Associate

Okay, the title of this article could rightfully be accused of being click bait and of being  unfair to Brian Jean, but it is also an accurate title.

Much like the late Rob Ford was photographed a an event with an individual well known to those familiar with the racist movement in Canada, so too was Brian Jean, leader of the Wildrose Party of Alberta who posed for this photo with Jonathan Besler we presume at the Calgary Stampede:

Given Besler's attitude toward the current NDP government in Alberta, perhaps we shouldn't be too surprised that he would gravitate towards the Wildrose Part as an alternative....

Extremism in Wildrose

Well, what our newest member lacks in total post, he certainly makes up in impact.

Naberius200's article on Link Byfield's association with white supremacist Paul Fromm has resulted in more than 3000 hits since it was published, becoming the third most viewed article on this blog in only a little over 2 weeks. No doubt that is in large part due to the interest in the upcoming provincial election which, for the first time in more than 40 years, is actually a contest. The most recent poll numbers we've read place Wild Rose 7 points higher than the Progressive Conservatives, a dynasty that has ruled the province since 1971. While it appears that Wildrose is poised to form the next government, a significant percentage of the provinces electors are still uncertain.

Recent statements by some Wildrose candidates might give some Albertans cause for some concern.

* Our friend Harry doesn't believe that Link Byfield himself harbours racist views himself (though even if that is true, we think that any association with Paul Fromm should result in electors questioning one's judgment) but an examination of other candidates indicate a worrisome lack of tolerance:

* UPDATE: Not wishing to misquote Harry, we include the full text of his post here now:

I know someone very well who used to work for Mr. Byfield at his magazine, and according to them, racism was not tolerated in that workplace, despite whatever views were held or expressed.

Fromm gets around quite a bit, and has made a career out of misrepresenting himself to others and hitching his wagon to "freedom and right wing patriotic causes" so I would hesitate at tarring Mr. Byfield just because he was seen sharing a podium with Fromm. 

Ron Leech: “I think as a Caucasian I have an advantage... When different community leaders such as a Sikh leader or a Muslim leader speaks, they really speak to their own people in many ways. As a Caucasian, I believe that I can speak to all the community.”

Allan Hunsperger: “You can live the way you were born, and if you die the way you were born, then you will suffer the rest of eternity in the lake of fire, hell, a place of eternal suffering.”

Hunsperger also thinks public eduction is godless because of efforts to protect gay youth from being bullied. Nice guy.

And these are just a few of the candidates we could look at.

One might think that the leader might want to step in and say these views are not representative of the Party.

Unless you're Danielle Smith, in which case these comments are absolutely fine. Given their human rights platform, perhaps we shouldn't be surprised?

Byfield "Linked" To Extremist

That view [that white people have a disproportionate share of power] is based on the error that all people are equal. Blacks are on the whole less intelligent than whites. - Paul Fromm

Oh hi. First a brief introduction. I was asked by a vampire to make an occasional post while she was on hiatus. I picked the name "Naberius200" because Nos has this weird obsession with names that start with the letter "n" and the number 200. Who knows why? In any case, like the other members of the Collective (and I guess I can count myself in that number now) I'll try to keep the joint alive while Nos is on her well deserved break.

So I tried to think of an appropriate first post, and I realized that since there's an election out in Alberta, I might as well start with that.

I noticed while looking at the list of candidates for the Wildrose Party that a name jumped out at me.

Link Byfield is running in the constituency of Barrhead-Morinville-Westlock. He has been a long-time player in conservative politics in Alberta having been the editor and publisher of Alberta Report for 18 years (the magazine went under 2003). He became a, "senator in waiting" in 2004 and ran unsuccessfully in Whitecourt-Ste. Anne in the 2008 Alberta provincial election. Now in 2012 he's taking another stab at elected office. Here he is with Wildrose Party leader Danielle Smith.

Mr. Byfield, someone who's views are considered by many people to not be very mainstream in and of themselves, has also been associated with people much less photogenic and mainstream as Ms. Smith.

Wildrose Alliance Candidate "Linked" To Paul Fromm

Photograph falls under Fair Use.


Link Byfield shaking hands with Paul Fromm in November 1999. Byfield was being honoured at dinner held by Fromm.

Link Byfield is currently a candidate for the Wildrose Alliance Party in the constituency of Whitecourt-St. Anne (see Byfield campaign website). In 2004, he was chosen as one of Alberta's four senators in waiting, though the Federal government is not obliged to appoint him to the Senate.