Progressive Conservative leadership hopeful Richard Starke has vowed to cooperate with the Wildrose to stamp out vote splitting in the next election.

The Vermillion-Lloydminster MLA unveiled his coalition plan at an Edmonton hotel Thursday morning, calling it a “necessary adjustment” to his campaign.

Former MP Jason Kenney is running on a platform to unite Alberta conservatives under the banner of a new party, which would destroy the PC and Wildrose parties in the process. 

Starke said Thursday Kenney’s plan is far too risky, leaving conservatives scrambling to get a new party organized before the 2019 election.

Under Alberta election laws, cash and assets can’t be transferred from one party to another, so a new party would also be starting from scratch financially. 

Starke said he hasn’t spoken with anyone in the Wildrose Party about his idea, but is confident they will get on board.

Thursday’s announcement was more about “reaching out to Wildrose,” he said.

“If you discuss it ahead of time, it smacks of a backroom deal you’ve made somewhere. We have some experience with that, and it doesn’t end well,” he said. 

Wildrose officials said party leader Brian Jean wasn’t available to comment on Starke’s plan Thursday, but he will have “more to say on unity in the short future.” 

A brief statement from Wildrose caucus whip Jason Nixon said PC members would have to consider the plans put forward by leadership candidates themselves, and his party remains focused on consulting with its members.

“In the end, it’s the members who will decide the path forward,” Nixon said.

Starke said his idea is a reaction to Albertans who have told him they see Kenney’s unity plan as the only way to defeat the NDP in the next election.

He called it a common-sense proposal that would see the parties cooperate to eliminate the risk of vote splitting.

Starke was light on details about how exactly that would work, but envisages an arrangement where the parties would work together while remaining separate entities with two leaders and two caucuses.

“One of the ways the legislature fails Albertans, is it fails in bringing together the best ideas from all the parties,” Starke said.

“I think Albertans expect us to work together and put political differences aside. That doesn’t mean erase parties and erase viewpoints, but once you’re there, you work together.” 

He said details of a coalition could be hashed out starting March 19 — the day after the PC leadership vote.

“Working together in cooperation rather than competition is the most effective way to defeat the NDP while avoiding the major upheaval of both parties proposed by the Jason Kenney plan,” he said.

A member of Kenney’s campaign team was turned away from the announcement at the door, but Kenney spokesman Blaise Boehmer said “Albertans deserve more than half-measures, backroom deals and high-risk schemes.”

“We believe the grassroots should decide the future, not party insiders,” Boehmer said.