Alberta Premier Jason Kenney told attendees at a recent event in northeast Calgary he must stay in power to protect them from the “extreme views” and “racism” of those seeking to unseat him as UCP leader and premier..Speaking to a crowd of minority groups and several MLAs, he urged the group to do their part to keep him on as leader of the United Conservative Party (UCP) in the review vote on April 9..Kenney warned “many, many” people with extreme views are working to “destabilize” him at the leadership review demanded months ahead of schedule by dozens of constituency associations dissatisfied with his performance..“Folks, I’ll tell you what does not belong. As long as I am leader of this party and premier of Alberta, voices or racism, hatred, and intolerance will find no home in this party,” he said..The March 18 event, co-hosted by Calgary lawyer Usman Mahmood and Calgary realtor Kamran Choudhry, was posted on Vision Live Studio’s Facebook account..The attendees from diverse ethnic backgrounds — including Pakistani, Sunni Muslim, Tibetan, Nigerian, and Ukrainian — were reminded of the urgency to buy their $10 memberships before the March 19 cutoff deadline allowing them to vote at the special general meeting (SGM)..Dire consequences will ensue if “extreme views end up destabilizing the mainstream politics of this province,” Kenney warned, pointing to a disqualified UCP nomination candidate and Brian Jean as examples of racists and extremists representing those opposed to his continued leadership..“We are on track. The province is leading the country. We are keeping our commitments. There is a new boom happening in this province, so much great stuff happening. But on April 9 it could all go into the ditch. It could all go offside if this government is disrupted,” Kenney said..“I’m going to do something tonight that will be controversial but is necessary. You need to know what the stakes are.”.“I committed when I became leader of this party that we would not [sic], that we believe in freedom of speech, we believe in political diversity. But we are committed to this being a party rooted in the mainstream values of Alberta. We believe in human dignity and an opposition to racism.”.Kenney noted his “rigorous screening process” for potential UCP candidates in the “last election cycle” rooted out many racists..“There were a number of people that had views or statements that were not consistent with our Alberta values.” .“Some of who are actively organizing to destabilize my leadership, this party and this government, right now.”.“One of those individuals is a guy named Todd Beasely. He was excluded as a candidate in Brooks-Medicine Hat because he had posted the following on Facebook. And my apologies to our Muslim friends,” said Kenney..He then proceeded to repeat negative comments Beasley posted about Islam. .“There’s another individual. He’s running around the province organizing meetings like this to ask people to come to Red Deer on April 9th to destabilize this government. This is not an opinion. This is a matter of fact,” said Kenney who didn’t name who he was accusing..“There’s another individual who just applied for a candidacy and was excluded that posted on social media that ‘Islam is a death cult.’ We excluded this person from being a candidate.”.“And there are many, many more like this,” said Kenney..“We have an individual who was just elected in Fort McMurray, who said he was running in a nomination against Dr. Joshua Gogo, a Canadian of Nigerian origin. This individual said that ‘Kenney is pushing a Nigerian economist.’ Not a Canadian, not an Albertan, but implying that that person doesn’t belong here,” said Kenney..He avoided naming newly-elected Fort McMurray-Lac La Biche MLA Brian Jean, a vocal Kenney critic who announced he intends to take a run at the UCP leadership. Kenney did not say why other candidates were disqualified while Jean was not. .“I’m sorry if I offended anybody, but you need to know that the stakes are high. I respect Alberta democracy, but this party must be a party that is in the mainstream.”.Central Peace-Notley Independent MLA Todd Loewen said Kenney’s comments echo accusations made by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau about the unvaccinated which aired in September 2021 on a French language program..“They are extremists who don’t believe in science, they’re often misogynists, also often racists. It’s a small group that muscles in, and we have to make a choice in terms of leaders, in terms of the country. Do we tolerate these people?” asked Trudeau..“He sounds exactly like Trudeau with his name-calling and childish rants against those with different opinions,” said Loewen..“He continues to divide Albertans. He’s desperate and willing to do or say anything to save his job. If you don’t agree with him, he’ll lash out with hate and anger. There’s no room for discussion.”.“These kind of words are used to create fear and that’s despicable as it takes away the opportunity to have rational discussions to improve people’s lives.”.“He was supposedly a unifier, but in reality, he’s created more division than any one person I know. By saying things like this, he’s calling members of his own caucus and cabinet racists.”. Kenney is in “huge trouble,” said Independent Cyprus-Medicine Hat MLA Drew Barnes. .“He’s divided so many Albertans and he’s lost the trust of the vast majority of Albertans so he’s obviously scrambling,” he said..“Albertans have proven time and time again how inclusive we are, how hard-working we are, how willing to share we are. So, he’s off base.”.“My advice to him would be to stop the divisive rhetoric and basically get out of the way so people that can see the value and the opportunity of all Albertans have a chance.”.“It’s been a government of not only a lack of transparency. It’s been a top-down bully-style government. That is not what Albertans deserve. That is not what Albertans expect. That is not going to make Albertans free and prosperous. That’s another reason Premier Kenney needs to resign.”.Meanwhile, the UCP’s central board is expected to meet Tuesday to discuss possible changes to the leadership review to accommodate more than 13,500 members who have already registered to vote as of the March 19 cutoff. That figure doesn’t include existing UCP members who can continue to sign up to register for the vote up until April 9, so the final count is expected to be significantly higher..Logistics may prove to be a problem since the Cambridge Hotel in Red Deer booked to host the vote has a 2,000-person capacity..The Western Standard reported the UCP board is contemplating a decision to allow voting to stretch over three days in three cities, rather than hold a one-day in-person April 9 event..Slobodian is the Senior Manitoba Columnist for the Western Standard.lslobodian@westernstandardonline.com
