UCP House Leader Jason Nixon got raked over the coals Thursday, June 7, at the party's "end of session" media availability in Edmonton.

The first and foremost issue on the minds of the assembled media was the UCP's stance on Bill-9, which see's protestors at abortion clinics forced back 50 metres from the doors to protect women.

Each time the debate was brought up, the UCP Caucus marched out of the legislature, refusing to debate it.

Nixon says constituents didn't want them to debate it.

"My constituents overwhelmingly were clear with me and most of my colleagues as far as I know were hearing the same thing. They did not want us to engage with the NDP on this issue. Again, they felt it was only being done as a political game."

Nixon was accused of not caring about women's health.

"We certainly do care about women's health, but we believe that the NDP were playing political games with this issue and we were not going to play games with them and participate in the political process."

Nixon says the NDP brought up the issue as a way to embarrass Leader, Jason Kenney.

He was also peppered with questions about issues facing the nomination process for his party in the newly formed riding of Airdrie-East.

At issue is former Wildrose Party money being transferred to a political action committee or "PAC" and being used by the UCP, which the party denies, and has led to one resignation and allegations of "secretive money transfers" and intimidation by UCP MLA Angela Pitt.

Nixon says as far as he knows, everything is above board.

"From what I've seen, and I haven't read everything that's involved in it right now. It appears there's friction going on within that nomination. The party's been clear, uh, Miss Pitt is not... You know the process that's happened with any transfers associated with the board has followed the law in connection with Elections Alberta."

The Legislature winds up the Spring sitting Thursday.

 

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