While Alberta Premier Jason Kenney has proven to be adept at talking-the-talk in standing up to Ottawa, he has consistently refused to walk-the-walk..While Kenney now has more than two years as premier under his belt now, his government has failed to implement any major policy to protect Alberta from an increasingly hostile federal government. Albertans concerned with provincial rights have clearly become tired of Kenney’s all-talk, no-action policy when it comes to Ottawa..In a poll from Mainstreet Research, commissioned by the Western Standard, the nascent Wildrose Independence Party has shot up to 16% support province-wide. Lacklustre UCP performance has led to a modest uptick in support for the NDP, but it’s clear most of the UCP support is bleeding to the right..In constituencies, the two big cities — Edmonton and Calgary — it’s become a real three-way race between the NDP, UCP, and WIP. While support for the Wildrose is softer in urban constituencies, its support is high enough to be a determining factor in many races. NDP support is likely to remain static in rural regions, while the Wildrose is only one more big fight with Ottawa in taking a commanding lead in those constituencies. Premier Kenney is going to have to start making inroads with autonomists and sovereigntists soon if he’s to have any hope of turning the tide. That will mean less talk, and more action..In a recent interview in response to Quebec’s attempt to unilaterally have itself declared a nation within Canada, Premier Kenney talked up a great game as usual..“I may not agree with Quebec on every point of policy, but they fight for their province using every legal tool at their disposal,” said Kenney in a Friday interview..That sounds nice, but Kenney hasn’t even opened up the toolbox of provincial rights, much less utilized any of them. Citizens concerned about Alberta’s treatment and its role within confederation are finished with doublespeak and lip service. With Paul Hinman and the Wildrose becoming a credible player on the electoral landscape, Kenney can no longer keep up his carrot and stick game. “The base” he says he wants to replace now has somewhere else to go. And the polls are showing, they’re leaving..After the Supreme Court ruled in March that federally-imposed carbon taxes are indeed constitutional, Kenney came out roaring, with talk..“We’re going to consider all options, listen to Albertans, and see what they want to do. Two-thirds of Albertans continue to oppose a carbon tax,” said Kenney.Then CPC leader Erin O’Toole broke his word and proposed a convoluted and expensive carbon tax of his own..Jason Kenney’s silence was, and remains, deafening. A month and-a half-later, Kenney has yet to utter a single word about his ally’s carbon tax, despite dozens of inquires from Western Standard reporters. Kenney appears to be knowingly ignoring the will of two-thirds of Albertans when its his own party in Ottawa..When none of the major federal parties will protect Alberta from taxes designed to target its industries, Albertans have to look to provincial leadership to protect them. Kenney refuses to provide that leadership. This has led to a spike in support for Jay Hill’s Maverick Party and, of course, contributed strongly to the surge in Wildrose support..It has become clear the “Fair Deal” panel hearings were little more than an exercise to pacify Albertans who had regional concerns. The months have turned into years since Kenney was elected on a platform of standing up for Alberta that would be “strong and free,” yet not a single major plank of the “Fair Deal” recommendations reached the stage of even proposed legislation..In standing up for our energy sector, the Kenney government has proven no less flaccid in its approach than it has proven to be with Ottawa. The ‘war room’ morphed into an expensive national laughingstock which even pro-energy advocates don’t take seriously. The inquiry into foreign funding of anti-Alberta energy groups has turned into a bad joke as Steve Allen has sought – and received – their fourth extension for his report. Tree sloths move with more speed and vigor than Allen’s inquiry and it’s leading Albertans to conclude it’s leading to a multi-million dollar nothing burger..Paul Hinman is no slouch as a political player. He was key in developing the conservative policies that built the Wildrose Party into an electoral force a decade ago. He knows the fiscal policies and democratic reforms Albertans want to see. He doesn’t need to re-invent any wheels here. Gaining the support of Albertan regionalists was the low-hanging fruit for the upstart party. The party has seen massive growth driven by Kenney’s lockdowns, pastor imprisonments, church closures, and attacks on civil liberties across the board. Now Hinman will target those who want to see taxation and spending brought under control, along with citizens concerned with individual rights and democratic reform. The UCP has given more than enough to work with..Public opinion on lockdown measures is also beginning to sway as found in another poll conducted for the Western Standard. As he did in dealing with Ottawa, Jason Kenney talked a good game when it comes to protecting businesses and individual rights during COVID-19, but played a different one when it came to actual legislation and regulation. Fatigue with restrictions is wearing on citizens and as the lone significant party standing in opposition to lockdowns, Wildrose is well placed to garner support as the economic consequences of extended lockdowns become more evident..Bait-and-switch tactics with the electorate will only work in a two-party system. If voters feel there is nowhere else to go, they will stick with the tried and true. There is a third player on the block now..Albertans historically have not been inclined to holding their noses. They are what Preston Manning called, “political entrepreneurs.” When the major options become unpalatable, they create new ones. That’s why we have spawned new parties and obliterated existing parties repeatedly in the last century, and the last decade..The UCP may well become the shortest-lived governing party in Alberta history if Kenney doesn’t stop talking and start acting soon..Cory Morgan is the Alberta Political Columnist for the Western Standard and Host of the Cory Morgan Show
While Alberta Premier Jason Kenney has proven to be adept at talking-the-talk in standing up to Ottawa, he has consistently refused to walk-the-walk..While Kenney now has more than two years as premier under his belt now, his government has failed to implement any major policy to protect Alberta from an increasingly hostile federal government. Albertans concerned with provincial rights have clearly become tired of Kenney’s all-talk, no-action policy when it comes to Ottawa..In a poll from Mainstreet Research, commissioned by the Western Standard, the nascent Wildrose Independence Party has shot up to 16% support province-wide. Lacklustre UCP performance has led to a modest uptick in support for the NDP, but it’s clear most of the UCP support is bleeding to the right..In constituencies, the two big cities — Edmonton and Calgary — it’s become a real three-way race between the NDP, UCP, and WIP. While support for the Wildrose is softer in urban constituencies, its support is high enough to be a determining factor in many races. NDP support is likely to remain static in rural regions, while the Wildrose is only one more big fight with Ottawa in taking a commanding lead in those constituencies. Premier Kenney is going to have to start making inroads with autonomists and sovereigntists soon if he’s to have any hope of turning the tide. That will mean less talk, and more action..In a recent interview in response to Quebec’s attempt to unilaterally have itself declared a nation within Canada, Premier Kenney talked up a great game as usual..“I may not agree with Quebec on every point of policy, but they fight for their province using every legal tool at their disposal,” said Kenney in a Friday interview..That sounds nice, but Kenney hasn’t even opened up the toolbox of provincial rights, much less utilized any of them. Citizens concerned about Alberta’s treatment and its role within confederation are finished with doublespeak and lip service. With Paul Hinman and the Wildrose becoming a credible player on the electoral landscape, Kenney can no longer keep up his carrot and stick game. “The base” he says he wants to replace now has somewhere else to go. And the polls are showing, they’re leaving..After the Supreme Court ruled in March that federally-imposed carbon taxes are indeed constitutional, Kenney came out roaring, with talk..“We’re going to consider all options, listen to Albertans, and see what they want to do. Two-thirds of Albertans continue to oppose a carbon tax,” said Kenney.Then CPC leader Erin O’Toole broke his word and proposed a convoluted and expensive carbon tax of his own..Jason Kenney’s silence was, and remains, deafening. A month and-a half-later, Kenney has yet to utter a single word about his ally’s carbon tax, despite dozens of inquires from Western Standard reporters. Kenney appears to be knowingly ignoring the will of two-thirds of Albertans when its his own party in Ottawa..When none of the major federal parties will protect Alberta from taxes designed to target its industries, Albertans have to look to provincial leadership to protect them. Kenney refuses to provide that leadership. This has led to a spike in support for Jay Hill’s Maverick Party and, of course, contributed strongly to the surge in Wildrose support..It has become clear the “Fair Deal” panel hearings were little more than an exercise to pacify Albertans who had regional concerns. The months have turned into years since Kenney was elected on a platform of standing up for Alberta that would be “strong and free,” yet not a single major plank of the “Fair Deal” recommendations reached the stage of even proposed legislation..In standing up for our energy sector, the Kenney government has proven no less flaccid in its approach than it has proven to be with Ottawa. The ‘war room’ morphed into an expensive national laughingstock which even pro-energy advocates don’t take seriously. The inquiry into foreign funding of anti-Alberta energy groups has turned into a bad joke as Steve Allen has sought – and received – their fourth extension for his report. Tree sloths move with more speed and vigor than Allen’s inquiry and it’s leading Albertans to conclude it’s leading to a multi-million dollar nothing burger..Paul Hinman is no slouch as a political player. He was key in developing the conservative policies that built the Wildrose Party into an electoral force a decade ago. He knows the fiscal policies and democratic reforms Albertans want to see. He doesn’t need to re-invent any wheels here. Gaining the support of Albertan regionalists was the low-hanging fruit for the upstart party. The party has seen massive growth driven by Kenney’s lockdowns, pastor imprisonments, church closures, and attacks on civil liberties across the board. Now Hinman will target those who want to see taxation and spending brought under control, along with citizens concerned with individual rights and democratic reform. The UCP has given more than enough to work with..Public opinion on lockdown measures is also beginning to sway as found in another poll conducted for the Western Standard. As he did in dealing with Ottawa, Jason Kenney talked a good game when it comes to protecting businesses and individual rights during COVID-19, but played a different one when it came to actual legislation and regulation. Fatigue with restrictions is wearing on citizens and as the lone significant party standing in opposition to lockdowns, Wildrose is well placed to garner support as the economic consequences of extended lockdowns become more evident..Bait-and-switch tactics with the electorate will only work in a two-party system. If voters feel there is nowhere else to go, they will stick with the tried and true. There is a third player on the block now..Albertans historically have not been inclined to holding their noses. They are what Preston Manning called, “political entrepreneurs.” When the major options become unpalatable, they create new ones. That’s why we have spawned new parties and obliterated existing parties repeatedly in the last century, and the last decade..The UCP may well become the shortest-lived governing party in Alberta history if Kenney doesn’t stop talking and start acting soon..Cory Morgan is the Alberta Political Columnist for the Western Standard and Host of the Cory Morgan Show