Alberta's Wildrose Alliance party gained two new elected members on Monday when two Tories crossed the floor of the provincial legislature to join the upstart party's ranks.
Rob Anderson, who represents the riding of Airdrie-Chestermere, and Heather Forsyth, the representative for Calgary-Fish Creek and a former cabinet minister, each announced they were leaving the Alberta Progressive Conservative Party to join the Wildrose Alliance.
"Under Premier (Ed) Stelmach, this government has lost its way," Forsyth told reporters. "And to watch what has happened ... I simply could not stand by and be silent any more."
Anderson was equally blunt.
"Simply put, our system of governance has become entirely dysfunctional and it is not something I can continue to be a part of."
Monday's defections brought the total number of elected Wildrose Alliance members to three, including Paul Hinman, who won a seat with 37 per cent support in a byelection last September.
Duane Bratt, a political science professor at Mount Royal University, predicted there are more defections on the way.
"There are more coming. I won't say who they are, but there are some more of these coming. The first two are the gutsiest," he said.
The Tories now hold 68 of the Alberta legislature's 83 seats. The party has been in power since 1971.
The Alberta Liberals hold nine seats in the legislature, the NDP hold two and ex-Tory Guy Boutilier, who represents the oilsands region of Fort McMurray, sits as an independent.
Alberta premier and Tory leader Ed Stelmach was on vacation and was not immediately available for comment.
Tom Olsen, a spokesperson for the premier, downplayed Monday's defections.
"Alberta, like the rest of the world, is facing a recession and we have actually dealt with the recession better than most jurisdictions because the premier had the foresight to establish a fund of $17 billion to see us through this kind of situation," Olsen said.
"It is difficult economic times and tough decisions have to be made, and teams stay together behind their leader and that is what 68 members of the Stelmach government are doing."
Wildrose Alliance leader Danielle Smith said the decision to cross the floor came at a cost for both members, who were sacrificing the benefits that come with being part of the sitting government.
"Anyone who would consider joining our party would have to be prepared to walk away from a substantial portion of their paycheque, their campaign war chests and some volunteers," Smith said in a statement.
"Since we are not the party in government, we cannot offer them a cabinet post or the trappings of power -- even if we wanted to."
Smith, who does not hold a seat in the legislature, said their decision "is based on principles and the recognition that the Stelmach Tories no longer represent the interests of Albertans."
Anderson said he disagreed with the way the ruling party was being managed.
He said the Tory leadership "has failed to address my constituents' concerns and will not permit me to speak publicly about these issues. Instead of remaining silent I have decided to stand up with even greater force for the people who elected me."
Forsyth, who previously served as Alberta' solicitor general and as the minister of children's services, said Wildrose Alliance members convinced her to switch sides.
Forsyth said she was confident the decision to join the Wildrose Alliance will enable her to "work together to build the province that Albertans deserve."
Forsyth was dropped from Stelmach's cabinet after the last provincial election.
A December Angus Reid survey put the Wildrose Alliance at 39 per cent support in Alberta, ahead of the incumbent Tories at 25 per cent.
With a report by CTV Calgary's Kevin Green and files from The Canadian Press
