The title of this piece may appear to be hyperbolic, but right now it’s a valid question..There are only two possible scenarios explaining the actions of the UCP in this last year. Either they’re purposely trying to torpedo their own chances of re-election or they are the most breathtakingly stupid party to grace the halls of the Alberta legislature in generations..The secret to winning political support isn’t in having the best policy set in the bunch, nor is it in having the ability to shred your opponents in the public eye. The way to garner the electoral love of the citizenry is to earn their trust and the UCP seems to actually go out of its way to break trust..The podium was still warm from Premier Jason Kenney’s address to Albertans when he pleaded with them to get vaccinated along with delivering new restrictions on their movements when senior UCP members gathered in an Edmonton restaurant and bar for a Christmas party. Word is that nearly 200 people were tightly packed into the space where they mixed, mingled, drank, and had a good old time together. Many of them were unmasked by the way..Just hours before this Christmas gathering of the party faithful, Dr. Deena Hinshaw advised Albertans to consider putting off their Christmas plans for the second year in a row and to have “Christmas in July.” Restrictions were announced that cut the number of people allowed to sporting events in half while banning food and drink at the events in order to take away any excuse for being publicly unmasked. Strict limits remain in place limiting the number of guests a family may have for gatherings and from how many other households they may come from..As the UCP Christmas party loomed in light of all this, did not a single decision maker within the party hear some alarm bells going off? In that bloated administration loaded with communications people and strategists who draw some very hefty salaries, apparently not one of them saw the public relations disaster unfolding right in front of them. One that could so easily have been averted. Are they all half-wits or is the environment such that none of them feel they can speak up on such things?.Are any of them experiencing a feeling of deja vu right now? It was but a year ago when the UCP incurred the wrath of Albertans when they told us to stay home for the holidays while a number of their own senior staffers and MLAs jetted around the world to tropical destinations for the holidays. In a much-delayed reaction, Kenney pulled MLAs from committees, fired his chief of staff, and demoted a cabinet minister. Kenney said at the time: “These individuals demonstrated extremely poor judgment.” Kenney and senior staff appear to have learned nothing from this..In early summer as Albertans were still banned from large social gatherings and while the hospitality industry was still being crushed with restrictions, Kenney and senior UCP members decided to gather at the “Sky Palace” for dinner and cocktails. The gathering was photographed and Albertans were once again incensed. We were supposed to be masked and stay more than two meters from each other at all times, and here was the premier flaunting those rules. I can’t think of a more arrogant and self-destructive setting for their little rooftop tea party than the Sky Palace. It is a symbol of government elitism and again it makes me wonder if the UCP is actually trying to get themselves booted from office. Kenney again apologized of course..I am sure that we will see another apology soon for the Edmonton party. I don’t doubt that some people will be fired from senior positions within the UCP again. Will it matter though? The party appears to be dominated by imbeciles. They will just hire more of the same to fill the new openings..If I sound pissed off it’s because I am. I really do not want to see another term of Notley’s NDP in power, but I’m beginning to feel it’s unavoidable. I anticipate idiocy from the likes of Trudeau, but expect better from the UCP. Trudeau acted quickly and punished one of his own MPs for traveling this week by the way. He’s demonstrating more political acumen than Kenney right now. Think about that..Albertans are tired, miserable and many are going broke. Many have been diligently following government restrictions and mandates. Personal Christmas gatherings have been canceled and deferred. People miss their families, but have trusted the government and have chosen to do their part. What a slap in the face to those who have sacrificed..The UCP is enjoying the lowest public support of any provincial government in the country. One would think they’d be extra vigilant in working to avoid more scandals and embarrassments. Not only did they just step into a pile of their own crap again, they also seem to have sought it out in order to jump into it..Few things shatter the trust between people and governments more effectively than hypocrisy. Kenney’s UCP appears to go out of its way to demonstrate it..Leading by example is such a simple concept yet it continues to elude the UCP..Kenney’s UCP just gave Albertans a lump of coal while giving Notley one of the best Christmas gifts she could have imagined..Cory Morgan is Assistant Opinion & Broadcast Editor for the Western Standard.cmorgan@westernstandardonline.com
The title of this piece may appear to be hyperbolic, but right now it’s a valid question..There are only two possible scenarios explaining the actions of the UCP in this last year. Either they’re purposely trying to torpedo their own chances of re-election or they are the most breathtakingly stupid party to grace the halls of the Alberta legislature in generations..The secret to winning political support isn’t in having the best policy set in the bunch, nor is it in having the ability to shred your opponents in the public eye. The way to garner the electoral love of the citizenry is to earn their trust and the UCP seems to actually go out of its way to break trust..The podium was still warm from Premier Jason Kenney’s address to Albertans when he pleaded with them to get vaccinated along with delivering new restrictions on their movements when senior UCP members gathered in an Edmonton restaurant and bar for a Christmas party. Word is that nearly 200 people were tightly packed into the space where they mixed, mingled, drank, and had a good old time together. Many of them were unmasked by the way..Just hours before this Christmas gathering of the party faithful, Dr. Deena Hinshaw advised Albertans to consider putting off their Christmas plans for the second year in a row and to have “Christmas in July.” Restrictions were announced that cut the number of people allowed to sporting events in half while banning food and drink at the events in order to take away any excuse for being publicly unmasked. Strict limits remain in place limiting the number of guests a family may have for gatherings and from how many other households they may come from..As the UCP Christmas party loomed in light of all this, did not a single decision maker within the party hear some alarm bells going off? In that bloated administration loaded with communications people and strategists who draw some very hefty salaries, apparently not one of them saw the public relations disaster unfolding right in front of them. One that could so easily have been averted. Are they all half-wits or is the environment such that none of them feel they can speak up on such things?.Are any of them experiencing a feeling of deja vu right now? It was but a year ago when the UCP incurred the wrath of Albertans when they told us to stay home for the holidays while a number of their own senior staffers and MLAs jetted around the world to tropical destinations for the holidays. In a much-delayed reaction, Kenney pulled MLAs from committees, fired his chief of staff, and demoted a cabinet minister. Kenney said at the time: “These individuals demonstrated extremely poor judgment.” Kenney and senior staff appear to have learned nothing from this..In early summer as Albertans were still banned from large social gatherings and while the hospitality industry was still being crushed with restrictions, Kenney and senior UCP members decided to gather at the “Sky Palace” for dinner and cocktails. The gathering was photographed and Albertans were once again incensed. We were supposed to be masked and stay more than two meters from each other at all times, and here was the premier flaunting those rules. I can’t think of a more arrogant and self-destructive setting for their little rooftop tea party than the Sky Palace. It is a symbol of government elitism and again it makes me wonder if the UCP is actually trying to get themselves booted from office. Kenney again apologized of course..I am sure that we will see another apology soon for the Edmonton party. I don’t doubt that some people will be fired from senior positions within the UCP again. Will it matter though? The party appears to be dominated by imbeciles. They will just hire more of the same to fill the new openings..If I sound pissed off it’s because I am. I really do not want to see another term of Notley’s NDP in power, but I’m beginning to feel it’s unavoidable. I anticipate idiocy from the likes of Trudeau, but expect better from the UCP. Trudeau acted quickly and punished one of his own MPs for traveling this week by the way. He’s demonstrating more political acumen than Kenney right now. Think about that..Albertans are tired, miserable and many are going broke. Many have been diligently following government restrictions and mandates. Personal Christmas gatherings have been canceled and deferred. People miss their families, but have trusted the government and have chosen to do their part. What a slap in the face to those who have sacrificed..The UCP is enjoying the lowest public support of any provincial government in the country. One would think they’d be extra vigilant in working to avoid more scandals and embarrassments. Not only did they just step into a pile of their own crap again, they also seem to have sought it out in order to jump into it..Few things shatter the trust between people and governments more effectively than hypocrisy. Kenney’s UCP appears to go out of its way to demonstrate it..Leading by example is such a simple concept yet it continues to elude the UCP..Kenney’s UCP just gave Albertans a lump of coal while giving Notley one of the best Christmas gifts she could have imagined..Cory Morgan is Assistant Opinion & Broadcast Editor for the Western Standard.cmorgan@westernstandardonline.com
