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RED DEER, Alta. - Alberta Premier Ed Stelmach shrugged off his detractors and got 77 per cent of the votes cast by Tory delegates Saturday in a mandatory leadership review.
"It's good support given some of the issues that we're facing," Stelmach told reporters after the results were announced to 1,300 cheering delegates.
"It's a big tent and that's one of the reasons for the success of the Alberta Progressive Conservative Party over the decades."
Stelmach had faced division within the Tory ranks in recent months because of the sour economy and nagging controversies, including the troubled rollout of the province's H1N1 vaccine program.
He also faces a challenge from the upstart Wildrose Alliance, a right-wing party that has been energized by a recent byelection win and leadership race.
But on Saturday, 922 delegates voted against a leadership contest and just 269 voted for the startup of a process to pick a new leader.
Rod McDermand, a delegate from central Alberta, said he's hoping Stelmach can now move on and deal with more pressing issues facing the province.
The premier has more than two years until the next provincial election to rebuild the party's support, said McDermand.
"I think there's some hoopla about a new party," he said. "But I would like to see their policies on a whole lot of things. You've got to evaluate each party on what it stands for."
Earlier in the day, 700 protesters rallied outside the Tory meeting. Friends of Medicare organized the demonstration, which involved mostly unionized workers who are upset over hospital bed closures and other government cuts to health care.
But while the protesters were waving banners and placards denouncing his government's policy, Stelmach was inside the hotel telling delegates that his administration is on the right track.
"I'm very confident that what we've carved out in policy as the Progressive Conservative Party is the right one for Albertans," he said.
He said the real problem his government is facing is communicating its message to Albertans without it being interpreted by the media.
"I really do feel that the policies we have are the right ones for Alberta, but it's difficult to get it through the present media that's available to us," he said.
Stelmach said his government will soon start communicating more directly with Albertans using social media and other methods.
"You know Twitter, Flicker, YouTube," he said. "But not everybody has a computer at home, so we still have to look at some hard copy going to Albertans."
The stakes in Saturday's vote had been high for Stelmach, who has been leader of the long-governing party for only three years.
He delivered a landslide victory for the Tories last year, winning 72 of 83 seats. But recent polls have suggested the Wildrose Alliance is cutting deeply into the Tories' popularity.
The right-wing party was energized by a recent byelection win in a constituency the Tories held for 40 years. The Alliance also got a boost with the selection of Danielle Smith, a telegenic former journalist and small-business advocate, as party leader.
Smith issued a brief statement Saturday after the vote results were announced. She said the Tories appear to be out of step with many Alberta voters, who are turning against them.
"Albertans are upset with this government for destroying investor confidence in our energy industry, for mishandling our health care system and for taking us back into deficits," said Smith.
Riley Gorgsen, the newly elected president of the Tory's youth wing, said the party must improve its communications to spread a positive message to Albertans.
But he downplayed polls suggesting the Tory's popularity with voters is declining.
"I think the Wildrose, sure they're going forward with whatever they want to, but the PC party is going to come out strong after this weekend," said Gorgsen.
Liberal Opposition Leader David Swann issued a release that slammed Tory delegates for giving Stelmach a strong endorsement.
"The premier has survived this leadership review, thanks to his ability to motivate his tightly knit cadre of supporters," said Swann.
"But I'm afraid that this won't help him win back the support of the wider public. His administration has dropped the ball too often for Albertans to forgive."
Throughout the weekend, Stelmach offered few concessions to his critics, including those in his own party.
In a speech to delegates Friday night, he talked about his political courage and told delegates he would not be afraid to take bold stands and won't back down.
"Playing it safe isn't what this party's about and it's certainly not what I'm about," said the premier.
"As your leader, I'm not afraid of criticism ... or to take a stand. I won't back down from my principles."
