Some Albertans believe “customer service isn’t applied evenly” by the hired hands they employ in the United Conservative Party government..That’s how one conservative described the unanswered emails, calls never returned, and refusal of Premier Jason Kenney to meet with critics wanting to ask him questions..Putting a large segment of disgruntled Albertans on ignore won’t help Kenney who’ll be fighting for his political life during a leadership review at the April 9 special general meeting in Red Deer..It only makes angry people angrier and more determined to show up to vote him out..Many are angry about Kenney’s severe pandemic lockdown restrictions..Many are angry about shenanigans during annual general constituency association (CA) meetings — Chestermere-Strathmore, Rimbey-Rocky Mountain House-Sundre, and Sherwood Park — where they were silenced, and board members they supported were dumped and replaced by Kenney sympathizers..At least one CA board election — Chestermere-Strathmore — isn’t yet resolved..Many are angry that challengers to Kenney insiders — House Leader Jason Nixon in Rimbey-Rocky Mountain House-Sundre and Deputy House Leader Joseph Schow in Cardston-Siksika — were disqualified and feebly branded hateful, racist sympathizers based on social media activity dating back to 2015..Vulcan County Councillor Jodie Gateman was disqualified in Cardston-Siksika. Cattle rancher Tim Hoven was disqualified in Rimbey-Rocky Mountain House-Sundre. .All Albertans are entitled to voice their concerns and have them addressed. That’s not happening. .The Kenney government has sown division, and warranted or not, distrust..One example would be the calls I’ve received from people in limbo about whether their memberships and registration for the SGM is valid. .They’re wondering if they’ll get turned away at the door..“I bought my membership back in January. All I got was a quick little thanks for your support,” said Calgary’s Chris Shewchuk..“I have yet to receive my UCP membership card or have any of my calls returned. I’ve left countless voicemails inquiring the status. I never get hold of anybody. Nothing’s returned.”.UCP Director of Communications Dave Prisco said the delay is due to a “high volume of calls and emails, particularly from members asking for a copy of their digital membership card.”.“We’ve added extra help to speed up replies, but it’s important for people to know that they will not be asked to show their card or number when they arrive to vote. The membership card itself is not valid identification under our by-laws and there isn’t a ticket you need to show upon arrival.”.Members must show photo identification and proof of address to be matched with the registration list..“If you paid the fee, and your credit card was charged, you can be confident that you’re registered,” said Prisco..Only those who have purchased a membership by Saturday at 11:59 p.m. will be allowed to vote at the SGM..Shewchuk’s been waiting since January. .Others have been waiting longer..Pamela Koenig repurchased her membership last fall and still hasn’t received her card..The rural resident in Rimbey-Rocky Mountain House-Sundre is an outspoken critic of Kenney and others in the UCP..“I’m a disgruntled UCP member,” said Koenig, a former CA board member with the Wildrose..Meanwhile, Sundre’s Charlene Marfleet has been waiting in vain for replies to emails expressing various concerns that she sent to Kenney and Nixon since February 10..Most recently, she sent a March 15 email to UCP board members expressing concern about Hoven’s disqualification and appeal rejection..“I have written emails with my concern of the disqualification and had not heard back on the matter. Now I have read his appeal was rejected. Which leads me to believe that the voice of the people is not being heard. As a UCP member I will be voicing my opinion on April 9 in Red Deer,” wrote Marfleet..“As a person that used to feel if I got off the couch and voted every four years, I was doing my civic duty… I will not be sitting on the couch any longer.”.Marfleet, who hasn’t received a reply to her latest email, is a “concerned” single mother and area resident who was never involved in politics..“The trucker convoy renewed my Canadian spirit and woke my ‘person’ to be more involved … The continuation to mask our children was the final straw to get me off the couch and try to make a difference,” she told the Western Standard..Meanwhile, Kenney has been hosting many invite-only events. .The uninvited are shunned..Earlier this month, Kenney cut a meeting short with the Cardston-Siksika CA and ducked out the back door to avoid 200 people waiting outside at the Nobleford Community Hall in the small Alberta town..Some had been part of the February two-week blockade at the Sweetgrass-Coutts border held to protest COVID-19 mandates..They had 10 questions they wanted to ask the premier who had ignored them at Coutts..“He should have been standing behind them 100% and saying: ‘I agree with you,’” said Koenig..She expects the SGM will be charged, as many predict..“Regular Albertans are furious, they’re livid.”.“My own personal view is that Kenney and his inner core are doing everything they can to hold onto power. I think it’s insiders, the money people, the old Conservative crony boys club that want to hold onto power because they are entrenched deeply into the UCP.”.“I don’t mean the MLAs. There’s a growing contingency of MLAs trying to get him out of the leadership position.”.Several dozen CAs voted for an early leadership review..“I have seen an exponential growth in people concerned and involved with their government like never before. The more that people are involved and getting educated about what’s happening the harder the old boys club is pushing back.”.Slobodian is the Senior Manitoba Columnist for the Western Standard.lslobodian@westernstandardonline.com
Some Albertans believe “customer service isn’t applied evenly” by the hired hands they employ in the United Conservative Party government..That’s how one conservative described the unanswered emails, calls never returned, and refusal of Premier Jason Kenney to meet with critics wanting to ask him questions..Putting a large segment of disgruntled Albertans on ignore won’t help Kenney who’ll be fighting for his political life during a leadership review at the April 9 special general meeting in Red Deer..It only makes angry people angrier and more determined to show up to vote him out..Many are angry about Kenney’s severe pandemic lockdown restrictions..Many are angry about shenanigans during annual general constituency association (CA) meetings — Chestermere-Strathmore, Rimbey-Rocky Mountain House-Sundre, and Sherwood Park — where they were silenced, and board members they supported were dumped and replaced by Kenney sympathizers..At least one CA board election — Chestermere-Strathmore — isn’t yet resolved..Many are angry that challengers to Kenney insiders — House Leader Jason Nixon in Rimbey-Rocky Mountain House-Sundre and Deputy House Leader Joseph Schow in Cardston-Siksika — were disqualified and feebly branded hateful, racist sympathizers based on social media activity dating back to 2015..Vulcan County Councillor Jodie Gateman was disqualified in Cardston-Siksika. Cattle rancher Tim Hoven was disqualified in Rimbey-Rocky Mountain House-Sundre. .All Albertans are entitled to voice their concerns and have them addressed. That’s not happening. .The Kenney government has sown division, and warranted or not, distrust..One example would be the calls I’ve received from people in limbo about whether their memberships and registration for the SGM is valid. .They’re wondering if they’ll get turned away at the door..“I bought my membership back in January. All I got was a quick little thanks for your support,” said Calgary’s Chris Shewchuk..“I have yet to receive my UCP membership card or have any of my calls returned. I’ve left countless voicemails inquiring the status. I never get hold of anybody. Nothing’s returned.”.UCP Director of Communications Dave Prisco said the delay is due to a “high volume of calls and emails, particularly from members asking for a copy of their digital membership card.”.“We’ve added extra help to speed up replies, but it’s important for people to know that they will not be asked to show their card or number when they arrive to vote. The membership card itself is not valid identification under our by-laws and there isn’t a ticket you need to show upon arrival.”.Members must show photo identification and proof of address to be matched with the registration list..“If you paid the fee, and your credit card was charged, you can be confident that you’re registered,” said Prisco..Only those who have purchased a membership by Saturday at 11:59 p.m. will be allowed to vote at the SGM..Shewchuk’s been waiting since January. .Others have been waiting longer..Pamela Koenig repurchased her membership last fall and still hasn’t received her card..The rural resident in Rimbey-Rocky Mountain House-Sundre is an outspoken critic of Kenney and others in the UCP..“I’m a disgruntled UCP member,” said Koenig, a former CA board member with the Wildrose..Meanwhile, Sundre’s Charlene Marfleet has been waiting in vain for replies to emails expressing various concerns that she sent to Kenney and Nixon since February 10..Most recently, she sent a March 15 email to UCP board members expressing concern about Hoven’s disqualification and appeal rejection..“I have written emails with my concern of the disqualification and had not heard back on the matter. Now I have read his appeal was rejected. Which leads me to believe that the voice of the people is not being heard. As a UCP member I will be voicing my opinion on April 9 in Red Deer,” wrote Marfleet..“As a person that used to feel if I got off the couch and voted every four years, I was doing my civic duty… I will not be sitting on the couch any longer.”.Marfleet, who hasn’t received a reply to her latest email, is a “concerned” single mother and area resident who was never involved in politics..“The trucker convoy renewed my Canadian spirit and woke my ‘person’ to be more involved … The continuation to mask our children was the final straw to get me off the couch and try to make a difference,” she told the Western Standard..Meanwhile, Kenney has been hosting many invite-only events. .The uninvited are shunned..Earlier this month, Kenney cut a meeting short with the Cardston-Siksika CA and ducked out the back door to avoid 200 people waiting outside at the Nobleford Community Hall in the small Alberta town..Some had been part of the February two-week blockade at the Sweetgrass-Coutts border held to protest COVID-19 mandates..They had 10 questions they wanted to ask the premier who had ignored them at Coutts..“He should have been standing behind them 100% and saying: ‘I agree with you,’” said Koenig..She expects the SGM will be charged, as many predict..“Regular Albertans are furious, they’re livid.”.“My own personal view is that Kenney and his inner core are doing everything they can to hold onto power. I think it’s insiders, the money people, the old Conservative crony boys club that want to hold onto power because they are entrenched deeply into the UCP.”.“I don’t mean the MLAs. There’s a growing contingency of MLAs trying to get him out of the leadership position.”.Several dozen CAs voted for an early leadership review..“I have seen an exponential growth in people concerned and involved with their government like never before. The more that people are involved and getting educated about what’s happening the harder the old boys club is pushing back.”.Slobodian is the Senior Manitoba Columnist for the Western Standard.lslobodian@westernstandardonline.com
