Alberta Premier Jason Kenney said he is satisfied with what he was able to achieve in his time in politics at the Canada Strong and Free Network Regional Conference. .“We have completed close to 95% of the platform despite multiple once-in-a-century crises with public health crises, the collapse of the global economy, and the catastrophic collapse of oil prices,” said Kenney in a Saturday interview. .“We passed twice as much legislation in three years than the average Alberta governments do in a four-year term.” .Kenney said one policy he wishes he could have done was expanding private healthcare. Alberta has started to create a provincial pension system, but he wanted to spend more time on it. .Had he not resigned and stayed on as Alberta premier after the next election, he said it would not have been for much longer. He continued by saying he would have left one-and-a-half to two years after. .His advice to young conservatives is “to address real problems.” One real problem he confronted was investments leaving Alberta. .He said he solved this problem by reducing the business tax rate and cutting regulations. This approach was able to create hundreds of thousands of jobs, and most of them have been in sectors other than oil and gas. .Kenney said attacking identity politics can help conservatives, but they should proceed with caution. He made changes to immigration while it was a third-rail issue. .While he demanded people not wear niqabs while taking the Canadian citizenship oath, he stood up when Quebec wanted to ban them. If conservatives engage in culture wars, he said they have “to be seen as doing so thoughtfully, constructively, and not causing division.” .Kenney warned about conservatism turning from friendly populism to populism with a snarl. He said this change concerns him. .The Alberta premier went on to say social media has amplified alt-right extremists. Alt-right media has played off of people’s grievances to make money. .He bashed former US president Donald Trump for dividing people. He said Trump goes against conservatism by attacking institutions. .Kenney did not say what career he will have once leaving as Alberta premier. He said he has unread books he wants to go through and “looks forward to something called a weekend off.” .“I’m looking forward to parole,” he said. .“I’ve done my bit.” .Hub editor-at-large Sean Speer conducted the interview. .READ MORE: Kenney to speak about his legacy at Alberta political conference.“I was honoured to be asked and accepted,” said Speer. .Speer called Kenney “one of the most consequential Canadian politicians over the past 25 years and certainly one of the most consequential conservatives apart from Stephen Harper over this period.” He said Kenney’s legacy for his time in the Canadian government was how the politician enabled the Conservatives to win and the reforms he enacted within the immigration system.
Alberta Premier Jason Kenney said he is satisfied with what he was able to achieve in his time in politics at the Canada Strong and Free Network Regional Conference. .“We have completed close to 95% of the platform despite multiple once-in-a-century crises with public health crises, the collapse of the global economy, and the catastrophic collapse of oil prices,” said Kenney in a Saturday interview. .“We passed twice as much legislation in three years than the average Alberta governments do in a four-year term.” .Kenney said one policy he wishes he could have done was expanding private healthcare. Alberta has started to create a provincial pension system, but he wanted to spend more time on it. .Had he not resigned and stayed on as Alberta premier after the next election, he said it would not have been for much longer. He continued by saying he would have left one-and-a-half to two years after. .His advice to young conservatives is “to address real problems.” One real problem he confronted was investments leaving Alberta. .He said he solved this problem by reducing the business tax rate and cutting regulations. This approach was able to create hundreds of thousands of jobs, and most of them have been in sectors other than oil and gas. .Kenney said attacking identity politics can help conservatives, but they should proceed with caution. He made changes to immigration while it was a third-rail issue. .While he demanded people not wear niqabs while taking the Canadian citizenship oath, he stood up when Quebec wanted to ban them. If conservatives engage in culture wars, he said they have “to be seen as doing so thoughtfully, constructively, and not causing division.” .Kenney warned about conservatism turning from friendly populism to populism with a snarl. He said this change concerns him. .The Alberta premier went on to say social media has amplified alt-right extremists. Alt-right media has played off of people’s grievances to make money. .He bashed former US president Donald Trump for dividing people. He said Trump goes against conservatism by attacking institutions. .Kenney did not say what career he will have once leaving as Alberta premier. He said he has unread books he wants to go through and “looks forward to something called a weekend off.” .“I’m looking forward to parole,” he said. .“I’ve done my bit.” .Hub editor-at-large Sean Speer conducted the interview. .READ MORE: Kenney to speak about his legacy at Alberta political conference.“I was honoured to be asked and accepted,” said Speer. .Speer called Kenney “one of the most consequential Canadian politicians over the past 25 years and certainly one of the most consequential conservatives apart from Stephen Harper over this period.” He said Kenney’s legacy for his time in the Canadian government was how the politician enabled the Conservatives to win and the reforms he enacted within the immigration system.
