Independent MLAs told the Western Standard Tueday’s byelection results were proof positive Albertans aren’t happy with Premier Jason Kenney’s leadership..UCP candidate Brian Jean handily won the Fort McMurray-Lac La Biche byelection with 63.6% of the unofficial popular vote. Jean said the win was a “clear mandate from the people” and told Kenney outright “the UCP cannot win unless you’re gone.”.MLA for Cypress-Medicine Hat Drew Barnes and MLA for Central Peace-Notley Todd Loewen said Wednesday the byelection’s results speaks volumes about where Kenney stands with voters..Barnes said Kenney “absolutely” has to go. “Jason Kenney is not the person to be the premier and the conservative leader for Alberta.” He also said Jean’s win shows Albertans are holding Kenney accountable..“Brian is a longtime Fort McMurray representative, and I’m especially grateful that local constituents of Fort McMurray-Lac La Biche are getting their voice heard. He won the nomination and now he’s won the election. And let’s contrast that to the way Jason Kenney has handled the nominations where he’s disqualified two very credible candidates.”.“In Cardston-Siksika with Jodie Gateman and Rimbey-Rocky Mountain House-Sundre with Tim Hoven. That’s a situation where 100,000 Albertans are not able to hold their MLA accountable. They stepped up and tried in a good faith process and the UCP and Jason Kenney wouldn’t allow it to happen. So one of the things that Kenny is going to have to realize is, eventually, Albertans will hold him accountable in the same way it happened in Fort McMurray, so I’m pleased,” said Barnes..The UCP disqualified Hoven and Gateman based on old social media posts, but both were vying to displace Kenny loyalists Jason Nixon and Joseph Schow, respectively..Barnes said Albertans need to actively get involved to change the UCP’s leadership..“It’s time for all Albertans to step up with 15 minutes a week advocating for Alberta with volunteering, talking, encouraging and promoting. Hundreds of people that supported the trucker convoy through peaceful protests, through donations, had real change. We can do the same.”.Barnes served under Jean in the Wildrose party, but said he would not support Jean’s leadership bid..Loewen said he agrees with Jean’s stance on Kenney’s leadership. “Obviously he’s come out strong against Kenney and his leadership. And so that’s something of course I’ve been working on for quite some time.”.Barnes and Loewen were booted from UCP caucus in 2021 after Loewen wrote an open letter calling for the premier’s resignation. Barnes was previously very critical about Kenney’s leadership..“Jason Kenney has created that division within the party. He’s split the right and so now it’s time for the members to speak, for Jason Kenney to go, and then we start that process of rebuilding,” said Loewen..Loewen said he would return to a UCP caucus with someone else at the helm, but added the UCP party’s issues go deeper than the leader..“Jason Kenney is the biggest issue, but there’s other leadership issues there too. And I also believe that there’s party issues that need to be corrected too.”.Loewen’s “Bill 202: Public Health (Transparency and Accountability) Amendment Act, 2022” got the green light to proceed to debate in the house. He is confident the bill will shine some much-needed light on how government should make decisions for Albertans..Loewen said during COVID-19, the chief medical officer of health consulted with cabinet and cabinet committees “behind closed doors.” He said his bill ensures public health orders are tabled in the legislature for debate..“MLAs are elected by their constituents to represent them and represent their views. And we discuss a wide variety of bills in the legislature and represent our constituent’s views. And so there’s there’s no reason why something as important as a health order or a health emergency order shouldn’t have that same discussion.”.Loewen said nothing in his bill would delay health orders, it would just create some much-needed transparency, particularly where chief medical officer of health Dr. Deena Hinshaw was involved..“There’s been a lot of finger pointing when she would make recommendations and it seemed like the premier would go out and blame everybody but himself for everything that’s happening..“And so I think that that’s that’s what we need to stop. There needs to be accountability, responsibility for all those decisions, instead of this back and forth.”.Hinshaw did not fare well in a recent Angus Reid Institute survey. When asked about her performance, 53% of Alberta respondents said she’s doing a bad or very bad job..Loewen said if passed, his bill would help earn back Albertans’ trust..“In government right now, there’s a loss of trust, and that is deeply concerning to Albertans. If they don’t feel they can trust their medical professionals and their politicians, then that’s a serious issue.”.Amber Gosselin is a reporter with the Western Standard..agosselin@westernstandardonline.com
Independent MLAs told the Western Standard Tueday’s byelection results were proof positive Albertans aren’t happy with Premier Jason Kenney’s leadership..UCP candidate Brian Jean handily won the Fort McMurray-Lac La Biche byelection with 63.6% of the unofficial popular vote. Jean said the win was a “clear mandate from the people” and told Kenney outright “the UCP cannot win unless you’re gone.”.MLA for Cypress-Medicine Hat Drew Barnes and MLA for Central Peace-Notley Todd Loewen said Wednesday the byelection’s results speaks volumes about where Kenney stands with voters..Barnes said Kenney “absolutely” has to go. “Jason Kenney is not the person to be the premier and the conservative leader for Alberta.” He also said Jean’s win shows Albertans are holding Kenney accountable..“Brian is a longtime Fort McMurray representative, and I’m especially grateful that local constituents of Fort McMurray-Lac La Biche are getting their voice heard. He won the nomination and now he’s won the election. And let’s contrast that to the way Jason Kenney has handled the nominations where he’s disqualified two very credible candidates.”.“In Cardston-Siksika with Jodie Gateman and Rimbey-Rocky Mountain House-Sundre with Tim Hoven. That’s a situation where 100,000 Albertans are not able to hold their MLA accountable. They stepped up and tried in a good faith process and the UCP and Jason Kenney wouldn’t allow it to happen. So one of the things that Kenny is going to have to realize is, eventually, Albertans will hold him accountable in the same way it happened in Fort McMurray, so I’m pleased,” said Barnes..The UCP disqualified Hoven and Gateman based on old social media posts, but both were vying to displace Kenny loyalists Jason Nixon and Joseph Schow, respectively..Barnes said Albertans need to actively get involved to change the UCP’s leadership..“It’s time for all Albertans to step up with 15 minutes a week advocating for Alberta with volunteering, talking, encouraging and promoting. Hundreds of people that supported the trucker convoy through peaceful protests, through donations, had real change. We can do the same.”.Barnes served under Jean in the Wildrose party, but said he would not support Jean’s leadership bid..Loewen said he agrees with Jean’s stance on Kenney’s leadership. “Obviously he’s come out strong against Kenney and his leadership. And so that’s something of course I’ve been working on for quite some time.”.Barnes and Loewen were booted from UCP caucus in 2021 after Loewen wrote an open letter calling for the premier’s resignation. Barnes was previously very critical about Kenney’s leadership..“Jason Kenney has created that division within the party. He’s split the right and so now it’s time for the members to speak, for Jason Kenney to go, and then we start that process of rebuilding,” said Loewen..Loewen said he would return to a UCP caucus with someone else at the helm, but added the UCP party’s issues go deeper than the leader..“Jason Kenney is the biggest issue, but there’s other leadership issues there too. And I also believe that there’s party issues that need to be corrected too.”.Loewen’s “Bill 202: Public Health (Transparency and Accountability) Amendment Act, 2022” got the green light to proceed to debate in the house. He is confident the bill will shine some much-needed light on how government should make decisions for Albertans..Loewen said during COVID-19, the chief medical officer of health consulted with cabinet and cabinet committees “behind closed doors.” He said his bill ensures public health orders are tabled in the legislature for debate..“MLAs are elected by their constituents to represent them and represent their views. And we discuss a wide variety of bills in the legislature and represent our constituent’s views. And so there’s there’s no reason why something as important as a health order or a health emergency order shouldn’t have that same discussion.”.Loewen said nothing in his bill would delay health orders, it would just create some much-needed transparency, particularly where chief medical officer of health Dr. Deena Hinshaw was involved..“There’s been a lot of finger pointing when she would make recommendations and it seemed like the premier would go out and blame everybody but himself for everything that’s happening..“And so I think that that’s that’s what we need to stop. There needs to be accountability, responsibility for all those decisions, instead of this back and forth.”.Hinshaw did not fare well in a recent Angus Reid Institute survey. When asked about her performance, 53% of Alberta respondents said she’s doing a bad or very bad job..Loewen said if passed, his bill would help earn back Albertans’ trust..“In government right now, there’s a loss of trust, and that is deeply concerning to Albertans. If they don’t feel they can trust their medical professionals and their politicians, then that’s a serious issue.”.Amber Gosselin is a reporter with the Western Standard..agosselin@westernstandardonline.com
