Rebel UCP MLA Drew Barnes should stop pushing for a vote on Alberta independence, says Alberta Premier Jason Kenney..At a Wednesday press conference, Kenney said that the founding Constitution of the United Conservative Party requires the party to support a “united Canada” and would “fight within Confederation” to make things better for Alberta..“That’s the commitment (UCP candidates) they gave to voters,” said Kenney, who did add “MLAs have the right to speak their minds.”.Kenney was commenting on remarks Barnes made to the Calgary Sun‘s Rick Bell, calling for the premier to hold a referendum on independence, in conjunction with the 2023 election..Barnes was a member of the province’s Fair Deal panel but he issued a dissenting report saying the threat of Alberta independence needs to be on the table before any progress can be made with Ottawa to try and get a better deal for Alberta..Barnes, who has been a regular thorn in Kenney’s side, fired back..“I would tell him I have had the honour of being elected three times by the people of Cypress Hills-Medicine Hat to put Alberta first. If it can be done within the Canadian family, great. If not, we need to be able to move on independence,” said Barnes in an interview with the Western Standard..Despite clashing with Kenney on numerous issues., Barnes said he has given no thoughts to leaving the UCP and sitting as an independent..“I was elected as a member of the UCP and will stay there – unless my constituents tell me to leave,” he said..He pointed out it has been almost a year since the Buffalo Declaration was issued – and nothing has changed in federal-provincial relations..Barnes repeated his call to Kenney to end the province’s lockdown, noting there are only 14 COVID-19 cases in Medicine Hat and surrounding areas..The Cypress-Medicine Hat MLA has also called for elected officials to donate 20 per cent of their salaries to charity, as a show of support for people who have lost their jobs during the lockdown. So far, no other MLAs have taken up his suggestion..He has even asked Kenney to appoint him as Minister of Autonomy, a request which has not been granted..Dave Naylor is the News Editor of the Western Standard.,dnaylor@westernstandardonline.com,.Twitter.com/nobby7694
Rebel UCP MLA Drew Barnes should stop pushing for a vote on Alberta independence, says Alberta Premier Jason Kenney..At a Wednesday press conference, Kenney said that the founding Constitution of the United Conservative Party requires the party to support a “united Canada” and would “fight within Confederation” to make things better for Alberta..“That’s the commitment (UCP candidates) they gave to voters,” said Kenney, who did add “MLAs have the right to speak their minds.”.Kenney was commenting on remarks Barnes made to the Calgary Sun‘s Rick Bell, calling for the premier to hold a referendum on independence, in conjunction with the 2023 election..Barnes was a member of the province’s Fair Deal panel but he issued a dissenting report saying the threat of Alberta independence needs to be on the table before any progress can be made with Ottawa to try and get a better deal for Alberta..Barnes, who has been a regular thorn in Kenney’s side, fired back..“I would tell him I have had the honour of being elected three times by the people of Cypress Hills-Medicine Hat to put Alberta first. If it can be done within the Canadian family, great. If not, we need to be able to move on independence,” said Barnes in an interview with the Western Standard..Despite clashing with Kenney on numerous issues., Barnes said he has given no thoughts to leaving the UCP and sitting as an independent..“I was elected as a member of the UCP and will stay there – unless my constituents tell me to leave,” he said..He pointed out it has been almost a year since the Buffalo Declaration was issued – and nothing has changed in federal-provincial relations..Barnes repeated his call to Kenney to end the province’s lockdown, noting there are only 14 COVID-19 cases in Medicine Hat and surrounding areas..The Cypress-Medicine Hat MLA has also called for elected officials to donate 20 per cent of their salaries to charity, as a show of support for people who have lost their jobs during the lockdown. So far, no other MLAs have taken up his suggestion..He has even asked Kenney to appoint him as Minister of Autonomy, a request which has not been granted..Dave Naylor is the News Editor of the Western Standard.,dnaylor@westernstandardonline.com,.Twitter.com/nobby7694
