The views expressed in the following Opinion column are those of the author and not necessarily shared by the Western Standard..As we get ready to vote on the next leader of Alberta’s United Conservative Party, let’s talk about Todd Loewen. If it wasn’t for him, we wouldn’t even be having a UCP leadership contest. It was, after all, his brave and principled stand that allowed grassroots UCP Party Members to rise up and throw Jason Kenney out of office. He it was who stood up to Jason Kenney and demanded his resignation..There was good reason. Jason Kenney had led a government that locked citizens in their homes. It destroyed Alberta businesses, with no regard for the civil rights or interests of Albertans. He did not consider the interests of the UCP members that made him Premier..For a start, nobody who served in Jason Kenney’s cabinet deserves a chance at the top job. Instead, Albertans deserve a clear choice between a conservative premier who would stand up for the rights of Alberta businesses and farmers, and a socialist who would happily destroy businesses in exchange for more welfare recipients on Mr. Trudeau's universal basic income scheme..Finance Minister Travis Toews for example, deliberately shuttered businesses while directing Alberta Finance not to fully compensate businesses for the harm that the Kenney-Hinshaw Closure and Restriction Orders caused — orders allegedly for the benefit of all Albertans. These orders completely alienated the UCP base. They remain the reason the NDP are currently outfundraising the UCP, by a 2 to 1 margin. Toews is thus a party with Kenney to the intentional destruction of Alberta businesses and Alberta families, on the flimsiest of scientific justification. We now know they received poor advice from a doctor who has since claimed she didn’t even bother to consult the Chief Medical Examiner to see how many Alberta suicides were an economically driven response to their Covid policies..How about Brian Jean? He is likable enough. But his tendency to yell at women during debate and his naïve view that invoking S.46 of the Constitution Act will do any good, do him no credit. Constantly repeating that we need to “re-open the constitution” is beyond laughable..As to Danielle Smith, I have deep respect for Danielle Smith and the stand she took during the COVID mis-management crisis. I support the spirit of the proposals she and her team have put forward. And, I do believe it is time to elect a leader who we can trust and who has demonstrated actual as opposed to rhetorical trustworthiness..Nevertheless, “Fool me once — shame on you, fool me twice, shame on me,” rings in my head every time I hear her speak. Were she to be a minister in a Loewen government I believe she could make a substantial contribution to our province in a way that would allow her the opportunity to prove that she could once again be trusted. Now, Danielle simply has too much baggage for the NDP to exploit..On the other hand, Todd Loewen’s principled approach to governance cost him his position as Caucus Chair and had him thrown out of government to sit as an Independent. Every time I talk to him, I am impressed with Todd’s honesty, trustworthiness, intelligence and ability to thoughtfully listen and digest information, as well as his commitment to making Alberta a better place for our families and our children..We have been misled for too long by politicians like World Economic Forum acolytes Kenney, Notley and Trudeau who are only in office to advance themselves or the special interests they serve..We can’t afford leaders like Kenney — in thrall to Wellington Advocacy — and Rachel Notley who cheered while cops, firefighters, nurses, teachers and other union members were forcibly vaccinated against their will, with little or no support from their union bosses..Todd Loewen has a solid plan for giving constituents their voice back in Government. Todd Loewen will strengthen recall legislation to make faithless MLA’s who vote against the interests of their constituents much easier to fire. Todd Loewen will amend the Citizen’s Initiative Act to make Referenda, including Referenda in support of an Independent Alberta, easily achievable..Todd Loewen will gut the AHS, give control back to regional health authorities and will identify every bureaucrat within AHS and the CPSA responsible for the lockdowns and forced vaccine programs and remove them from any position of authority..Do not mistake Todd Loewen’s quiet, thoughtful demeanor for weakness. Todd Loewen has spent a lifetime quietly and respectfully, leading people through the wilderness in furtherance of his family’s guide-outfitting business. That is not a profession for the weak or the timid..I believe Todd Loewen is the only candidate in the UCP race that can re-unite the UCP and beat Rachel Notley in the next election..For all of these reasons, I will be marking my ballot :.TODD LOEWEN # 1.DANIELLE SMITH # 2.Jeffrey R.W. Rath is a constitutional lawyer who represents the interests of citizens and communities whose rights are infringed by government.
The views expressed in the following Opinion column are those of the author and not necessarily shared by the Western Standard..As we get ready to vote on the next leader of Alberta’s United Conservative Party, let’s talk about Todd Loewen. If it wasn’t for him, we wouldn’t even be having a UCP leadership contest. It was, after all, his brave and principled stand that allowed grassroots UCP Party Members to rise up and throw Jason Kenney out of office. He it was who stood up to Jason Kenney and demanded his resignation..There was good reason. Jason Kenney had led a government that locked citizens in their homes. It destroyed Alberta businesses, with no regard for the civil rights or interests of Albertans. He did not consider the interests of the UCP members that made him Premier..For a start, nobody who served in Jason Kenney’s cabinet deserves a chance at the top job. Instead, Albertans deserve a clear choice between a conservative premier who would stand up for the rights of Alberta businesses and farmers, and a socialist who would happily destroy businesses in exchange for more welfare recipients on Mr. Trudeau's universal basic income scheme..Finance Minister Travis Toews for example, deliberately shuttered businesses while directing Alberta Finance not to fully compensate businesses for the harm that the Kenney-Hinshaw Closure and Restriction Orders caused — orders allegedly for the benefit of all Albertans. These orders completely alienated the UCP base. They remain the reason the NDP are currently outfundraising the UCP, by a 2 to 1 margin. Toews is thus a party with Kenney to the intentional destruction of Alberta businesses and Alberta families, on the flimsiest of scientific justification. We now know they received poor advice from a doctor who has since claimed she didn’t even bother to consult the Chief Medical Examiner to see how many Alberta suicides were an economically driven response to their Covid policies..How about Brian Jean? He is likable enough. But his tendency to yell at women during debate and his naïve view that invoking S.46 of the Constitution Act will do any good, do him no credit. Constantly repeating that we need to “re-open the constitution” is beyond laughable..As to Danielle Smith, I have deep respect for Danielle Smith and the stand she took during the COVID mis-management crisis. I support the spirit of the proposals she and her team have put forward. And, I do believe it is time to elect a leader who we can trust and who has demonstrated actual as opposed to rhetorical trustworthiness..Nevertheless, “Fool me once — shame on you, fool me twice, shame on me,” rings in my head every time I hear her speak. Were she to be a minister in a Loewen government I believe she could make a substantial contribution to our province in a way that would allow her the opportunity to prove that she could once again be trusted. Now, Danielle simply has too much baggage for the NDP to exploit..On the other hand, Todd Loewen’s principled approach to governance cost him his position as Caucus Chair and had him thrown out of government to sit as an Independent. Every time I talk to him, I am impressed with Todd’s honesty, trustworthiness, intelligence and ability to thoughtfully listen and digest information, as well as his commitment to making Alberta a better place for our families and our children..We have been misled for too long by politicians like World Economic Forum acolytes Kenney, Notley and Trudeau who are only in office to advance themselves or the special interests they serve..We can’t afford leaders like Kenney — in thrall to Wellington Advocacy — and Rachel Notley who cheered while cops, firefighters, nurses, teachers and other union members were forcibly vaccinated against their will, with little or no support from their union bosses..Todd Loewen has a solid plan for giving constituents their voice back in Government. Todd Loewen will strengthen recall legislation to make faithless MLA’s who vote against the interests of their constituents much easier to fire. Todd Loewen will amend the Citizen’s Initiative Act to make Referenda, including Referenda in support of an Independent Alberta, easily achievable..Todd Loewen will gut the AHS, give control back to regional health authorities and will identify every bureaucrat within AHS and the CPSA responsible for the lockdowns and forced vaccine programs and remove them from any position of authority..Do not mistake Todd Loewen’s quiet, thoughtful demeanor for weakness. Todd Loewen has spent a lifetime quietly and respectfully, leading people through the wilderness in furtherance of his family’s guide-outfitting business. That is not a profession for the weak or the timid..I believe Todd Loewen is the only candidate in the UCP race that can re-unite the UCP and beat Rachel Notley in the next election..For all of these reasons, I will be marking my ballot :.TODD LOEWEN # 1.DANIELLE SMITH # 2.Jeffrey R.W. Rath is a constitutional lawyer who represents the interests of citizens and communities whose rights are infringed by government.
