Jason Kenney is likely to prepare two speeches ahead of tonight’s results on his leadership review..That’s what the premier said Tuesday, in an exclusive interview with the Western Standard in Washington D.C., following his testimony to a US Senate committee..He thinks the trip demonstrates he isn’t distracted by the review, which comes after more than a quarter of the United Conservative Party constituency associations passed motions forcing the process..“I think I'll get a good endorsement (Wednesday.)”.“There's always surprises in politics and elections. So prepare to be surprised either way.”.To stay on, Kenney needs the support of more than 50% of UCP members — voters who rallied around him five years ago when he merged the Progressive Conservative Party and the Wildrose Party under the UCP banner..Under his leadership, Albertans handed the UCP a majority mandate in 2019, just four years after the right vote-split resulted in Rachel Notley and the NDP’s shock victory. At 64%, the election saw the highest voter turnout since 1982, and marked the first time an incumbent government failed to win a second term..Today, the Kenney government boasts an impressive record of achieving 90% of the 375 commitments they made during the campaign. Citing “legal and fiscal reasons,” Kenney says they won’t achieve 100%..But for many conservatives, Kenney’s pandemic policies have overshadowed progress his government made on what he calls “principled conservative policy reforms.”.For the past year, Take Back Alberta organized events across the province in a bid to oust Kenney. In this setting, Kenney is as unpopular as Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is at a People’s Party of Canada rally..Organizers and attendees alike point to the vaccine passports — or what the province called the “restriction exemption program” — introduced after Kenney promised not to. Others point to the arrest of Alberta pastors who held church services unhindered by pandemic policies..All begrudge the series of lockdown-style restrictions, which also brought dissent from Kenney’s own caucus. In April 2021, 17 UCP MLAs signed a letter opposing the premier’s move to curtail civil liberties in the face of spiking COVID-19 cases over a year into the pandemic..The premier says he understands anger surrounding COVID-19 policy. Even he was angry at times for the tough decisions he had to make. But given the chance, he would respond largely the same other than pushing to re-open schools earlier..As for the loudest voices pushing to remove him, Kenney says many haven’t been involved with a mainstream conservative party before. He doesn’t expect they’ll stick around after his review. Perhaps it’s a “silver lining” his leadership resulted in this new civic engagement, he laughs..But those disappointed in the premier likely didn’t understand who he’s always been, and the legacy he hopes to leave behind — one of principled conservatism, as shown through policy reforms implemented to get Alberta “back on track.”.He hopes his leadership demonstrates that’s still possible in Canada..“If my time in public service ends soon, I will have been very proud to have played a central role in recreating the conservative coalition in Alberta.”.But his point remains: conservatives can either “rip the party apart in a debate about something that's really largely in the rear view mirror over COVID policy that no longer exists, or we can choose to unite and move forward. I choose unity and moving forward.".Vote results are expected between 4-6 p.m. MT.
Jason Kenney is likely to prepare two speeches ahead of tonight’s results on his leadership review..That’s what the premier said Tuesday, in an exclusive interview with the Western Standard in Washington D.C., following his testimony to a US Senate committee..He thinks the trip demonstrates he isn’t distracted by the review, which comes after more than a quarter of the United Conservative Party constituency associations passed motions forcing the process..“I think I'll get a good endorsement (Wednesday.)”.“There's always surprises in politics and elections. So prepare to be surprised either way.”.To stay on, Kenney needs the support of more than 50% of UCP members — voters who rallied around him five years ago when he merged the Progressive Conservative Party and the Wildrose Party under the UCP banner..Under his leadership, Albertans handed the UCP a majority mandate in 2019, just four years after the right vote-split resulted in Rachel Notley and the NDP’s shock victory. At 64%, the election saw the highest voter turnout since 1982, and marked the first time an incumbent government failed to win a second term..Today, the Kenney government boasts an impressive record of achieving 90% of the 375 commitments they made during the campaign. Citing “legal and fiscal reasons,” Kenney says they won’t achieve 100%..But for many conservatives, Kenney’s pandemic policies have overshadowed progress his government made on what he calls “principled conservative policy reforms.”.For the past year, Take Back Alberta organized events across the province in a bid to oust Kenney. In this setting, Kenney is as unpopular as Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is at a People’s Party of Canada rally..Organizers and attendees alike point to the vaccine passports — or what the province called the “restriction exemption program” — introduced after Kenney promised not to. Others point to the arrest of Alberta pastors who held church services unhindered by pandemic policies..All begrudge the series of lockdown-style restrictions, which also brought dissent from Kenney’s own caucus. In April 2021, 17 UCP MLAs signed a letter opposing the premier’s move to curtail civil liberties in the face of spiking COVID-19 cases over a year into the pandemic..The premier says he understands anger surrounding COVID-19 policy. Even he was angry at times for the tough decisions he had to make. But given the chance, he would respond largely the same other than pushing to re-open schools earlier..As for the loudest voices pushing to remove him, Kenney says many haven’t been involved with a mainstream conservative party before. He doesn’t expect they’ll stick around after his review. Perhaps it’s a “silver lining” his leadership resulted in this new civic engagement, he laughs..But those disappointed in the premier likely didn’t understand who he’s always been, and the legacy he hopes to leave behind — one of principled conservatism, as shown through policy reforms implemented to get Alberta “back on track.”.He hopes his leadership demonstrates that’s still possible in Canada..“If my time in public service ends soon, I will have been very proud to have played a central role in recreating the conservative coalition in Alberta.”.But his point remains: conservatives can either “rip the party apart in a debate about something that's really largely in the rear view mirror over COVID policy that no longer exists, or we can choose to unite and move forward. I choose unity and moving forward.".Vote results are expected between 4-6 p.m. MT.
