Progressive Conservatives in Calgary for annual convention

Alberta's Progressive Conservatives are in Calgary this weekend for the party's annual convention.

The PCs have much to talk about. The party is coming off its biggest challenge in the last election from the Wildrose. The desire for change was apparent during the campaign, with the Wildrose raising more than twice the amount of the PCs.

So, the Progressive Conservatives are now focused on 'renewal', which is the theme of their convention.

"We have a great core of people that have been with us for decades. Each time we get a new leader we get new groups of people and we welcome them," says Bill Smith, Progressive Conservative party president.

On the agenda this weekend is reviewing the party's entire constitution, most notably, reviewing how it elects its leaders. The current system allowed for third place finisher Ed Stelmach and runner-up Alison Redford to become leader.

"Allowing a third place candidate to come up the middle can create dynamics for division within the party," says Chaldeans Mensah, Grant Macewan University political science professor.

There are other controversial amendments on the table this weekend, including one that would force federal conservatives, many of whom supported the Wildrose, to buy a membership in order to attend the convention.

"As a member of the provincial party, that doesn't entitle me to attend a federal party convention. So I don't see anything wrong with the discussion, but I don't think there should ever be an assumption that there should be crossover," says Premier Alison Redford.

But doing things differently may be a challenge for a party in power as long as Alberta's PCs.