The UCP caucus met for hours Thursday before deciding Jason Kenney will stay on as leader until his successor is chosen. .After only receiving 51.4% support from UCP members, Kenney, who had earlier indicated he would stay on as leader should he receive 50% plus one, announced it was "not adequate support to continue on." .Kenney's announcement Thursday came as a shock to many..Before the caucus meeting began Thursday morning, the Western Standard spoke to some of the caucus members about their views on the results of the leadership vote and the direction of the party. .Lac. Ste. Anne-Parkland MLA Shane Getson said Kenney's decision to step down was "very gracious." ."Even though the premier didn't have to step to the side, he put the party first. I think that's quite noble, admirable and speaks a lot about his character," said Getson to reporters. .When asked if caucus was notified they would be looking to select an interim leader in the Thursday meeting, Getson said they hadn't been told that and expected the meeting to be "pretty dynamic and pretty fun." .Jason Stephan, MLA for Red Deer-South, when asked whether the party needs to choose an interim leader at today's caucus meeting, said the focus is "looking at the best interests of Albertans and our party." . Shane Getson and Jason StephanShane Getson and Jason Stephan at UCP caucus meeting in Calgary ."I agree, there are great opportunities, there are many great men and women who would be great leaders of our party and our province and I'm looking forward to hearing and learning about those individuals and seeing what talents and experiences they have to contribute for the interests of Albertans," said Stephan. .Stephan, when asked whether he thinks Kenney should stay on until a new leader is decided, said it would be up to the caucus. .Jeremy Nixon, MLA for Calgary-Klein said he is looking forward to figure out how to "best move forward as a team" and keep "this conservative movement united." ."You know, I think that we have a lot of work to do build trust with Albertans and restore the faith in us that they gave us in the last election," said Nixon adding he believes it will be important for the party to reconnect with constituents and hear from Albertans. .When asked if he plans to put his name forward for leadership of the party, Nixon said he hasn't made that decision yet but said he believes he has "a lot to add to the conversation." .Nixon said he believes it will be important for the party to stay united and earn back the trust of Albertans moving towards next year's provincial election. .Innisfail-Sylvan Lake MLA Devin Dreeshen said he feels the party is at an important time in the party's history and getting "the right leader" in place is "extremely important for this province." .Dreeshen said "there is a tremendous amount of work that needs to happen" but said the focus now has to be on defeating the NDP in the next election moving forward. .Richard Gotfried, MLA for Calgary-Fish Creek said he believes the party now has the opportunity "to actually meet the expectations of Albertans" and said the party has the right people to do so. ."I'll say it again, principles, ethics, integrity, and that accountability to Albertans ... we've let them down on that. We need to re-double down on that, we need to reset the button here and we need to do that with a strong and principled interim leader.".Airdrie-Cochrane MLA Peter Guthrie, who has been outspoken with his disapproval of Kenney and had called for him to step down a number of times, was asked if he was happy to hear him resign. ."I don't think happy is the right word, but I am certainly satisfied with this result," said Guthrie. ."You know, we're a team. We want to be a unified group moving forward. I think this will help us to do that." ."The premier has been in the business a long time. And he knows that he needed a strong mandate to continue and I think when he saw the results, he did the right thing," said Guthrie. ."We need to rebuild trust with Albertans and today is going to be our first step in doing that." .Guthrie was asked his thoughts on Kenney running again.."Yeah, I actually just learned that this morning, so I guess we'll have to hear what he has to say in his opening remarks this morning and we'll move forward from there," he said..MLA Brian Jean, who recently won in the Fort McMurray-Lac La Biche byelection, said he was not surprised by the results of the vote. . Brian Jean at UCP caucus meeting in CalgaryBrian Jean at UCP caucus meeting in Calgary .When asked what he expected in the caucus meeting he said he didn't know what to expect. ."I'm hoping it's going to be a good conversation and we're going to be able to start brand new right after that meeting with a new vision, a new idea and a new interim leader coming soon," said Jean. ."Jason Kenney knows parliamentary tradition," said Jean. ."It would be parliamentary tradition for him to step down immediately as he has indicated and the healing process for our party, our membership and the caucus can begin only when he is gone." ."We need to unite this party, we need to renew it and we need to excite Albertans about the future of our party and our government and our province.".Jean said he plans to help unite Albertans through compromise and "find the best path forward for people and with the divisive nature of what's happened over the last couple of years, I think we need to think about what brings us together instead of what tears us apart." .Chestermere-Strathmore MLA Leela Aheer said she was surprised by what transpired at the leadership vote and called Kenney's decision to step down "a very humble move.".This is really ... it's a beautiful day for hope and to see what happens. I think the only thing that most of us wanted was to have a leadership race and to be able to engage with our public and earn back their trust and be with people," said Aheer. .When asked if she would run for interim leader, Aheer said it was something she hadn't thought about and said it would be a decision for the caucus. She added she would not put her name forward and would expect others to do so if they felt she was right for the position. .When asked if she would run for party's permanent leader she said, "Let's not cross that bridge before we get there." ."The truth is the only thing I have ever wanted is to be able to have an opportunity to prove to people who we are and to end the corruption and the cronyism and to be able to start a new day with hope for Alberta." .Aheer, speaking on the need for an interim leader, said she believes the party needs a "team player who's going to bring folks together because there has obviously been a lot of division.".Drew Barnes, although no longer a UCP caucus member after being booted by Kenney for calling on Kenney to resign in May 2021, arrived at the McDougal Centre to share his thoughts on Kenney's resignation. .Barnes said Kenney's resignation can now allow for the party and Albertans to unite and heal and said "it's time for Jason Kenney to go away." .He said he would willing to go back into the UCP, but said it would only be if Jason Kenney was out and was what his constituents want. ."The most important thing for today is for Jason Kenney to leave," said Barnes. ."You know, three years ago, he got 55% of all Albertans to vote in favour of him, now he can't even get 52% from his own small club."
