The Alberta Party is holding its first policy convention over the weekend in Red Deer.

"We think the existing political parties haven't been able to inspire a lot of people and there's certainly nothing undemocratic about creating a new party with some new idea," said Chris Laboissiere, president of the party's board of directors.

"I expect that we're going to be able to get a lot of support from people who typically were Conservative in the past or people that may be Liberals in the past."

The policy convention follows several sessions the party held across the province, called The Big Listen, where leaders invited Albertans to help identify key issues.

"Our policies will be based on what we've heard from Albertans and I think that's been our focus and it seems to us, at this point, that what the current government is doing is removed from what Albertans are asking for," said party organizer Michael Walter.

Chima Nkemdirim, Calgary Mayor Naheed Nenshi's chief of staff, is in Red Deer for the convention. Nkemdirim is one of three directors for the Alberta Party.

According to the party's website, its policy framework is built on six key values: prosperity, fiscal responsibility, social responsibility, sustainability, democracy and quality of life.

The Alberta Party was initially formed as an alliance of three political parties — the Alberta Social Credit Party, Western Canada Concept and the Heritage Party of Alberta — in 1985.

In the 2004 provincial election, the party nominated candidates in four ridings, none of whom won the election.

In 2008, the party nominated one candidate, Margaret Saunter, who placed last in the Edmonton Centre riding.

The party bills itself as a centrist alternative to Alberta's historically conservative politics.