Braid’s Leader’s Dinner: Reviving an Old Tradition for UCP’s Financial Gain

Recently, the United Conservative Party (UCP) revived an old tradition – the Braid’s Leader’s Dinner. The dinner is a fundraising event where the party leader invites high-profile guests to network and raise funds for their political campaigns. The event was held at the BMO Centre in Calgary and was attended by over 1,200 guests. The revival of this tradition raised questions about the UCP’s intentions and the power of networking in politics.

Braid’s Leader’s Dinner: A Revived Tradition

The Braid’s Leader’s Dinner dates back to the 1980s when former Alberta Premier, Peter Lougheed, began inviting influential business leaders to gather and discuss policy. The event was named after Peter Lougheed’s favorite tie, which had a braid pattern. Over the years, the dinner became a tradition that continued until the early 2000s when it was discontinued.

In 2019, UCP leader Jason Kenney revived the tradition, citing the need to bring together prominent business and community leaders to discuss issues facing the province. The event was well-received, with guests paying up to $10,000 per table. The dinner raised over $1.2 million, with proceeds going towards the UCP’s election campaign. The revival of the Braid’s Leader’s Dinner raised questions about the UCP’s motives in reviving an old tradition and the ethics of using networking to raise funds.

UCP’s Financial Gain and the Power of Networking

The revival of the Braid’s Leader’s Dinner was not without controversy. Critics argued that the event provided an unfair advantage to the UCP by giving them access to high-profile donors and influential business leaders. The dinner also raised questions about the ethics of using networking to raise funds for political campaigns.

However, supporters of the dinner argued that networking was an essential part of politics, and that the UCP was simply following in the footsteps of previous administrations. They also noted that the dinner provided an opportunity for the party to engage with the business community and discuss issues facing the province.

Regardless of the debate, the Braid’s Leader’s Dinner proved to be a successful fundraising event for the UCP. The party was able to raise a significant amount of money for their election campaign, and the event demonstrated the power of networking in politics.

The revival of the Braid’s Leader’s Dinner sparked a debate about the ethics of using networking to raise funds for political campaigns. While some argue that the event gave the UCP an unfair advantage, supporters of the dinner saw it as an opportunity to engage with the business community and discuss important issues facing the province. Regardless of one’s opinion, the event demonstrated the power of networking in politics and the importance of fundraising in election campaigns.

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