Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Alberta Premier Jason Kenney have something in common..They both run into a lot of racist, misogynist, extremists — some who even supposedly nurse big grudges..Odd how both Trudeau and Kenney expose these alleged black hearts with nefarious motives after they’ve been challenged by the very people they accuse of such terrible, awful things..Trudeau said it about the unvaccinated..Kenney — and his surrogates in the United Conservative Party (UCP) — manage to dig up alleged dirt about anyone who opposes his leadership..Trudeau trashed the unvaccinated during a September 2021 interview on the French-language program La semaine des 4 Julie..“They are extremists who don’t believe in science, they’re often misogynists, also often racists,” said Trudeau..As for Kenney, the closer his anticipated hotly-contested April 9 leadership review gets, the more allegedly hateful people he finds to warn Albertans about..Of course, the hatemongers are the ones who want him out as UCP leader and premier. .Dozens of disgruntled constituency associations voted to hold the early leadership review..Most recently, Kenney took a verbal swipe at former UCP nomination candidate Todd Beasley who was disqualified at the last moment in the 2019 nomination race in Brooks-Medicine Hat for posting what the party called “insensitive, inappropriate” comments on Facebook. .Beasley is now affiliated with the Wildrose Independence Party and continues an ongoing effort — that began before he was disqualified — to have Kenney removed as UCP leader..In a March 13 video posted on Facebook by Rana Atta, Kenney warned people at a meet and greet hosted by the Pakistan Canada Association Calgary that divisive, sinister forces were at work in the province, and surprise, surprise, these are the ones who want him out of a job..Kenney singled out Beasley when he spoke of the need for “common sense to navigate a sensible middle ground..“But some people don’t like the idea of compromise or common sense,” said Kenney..“Some people are very angry coming out of this and they want to express their anger at this leadership review on April 9th in a way that would unleash a hugely divisive fight within this party that I do not think we could heal from.”.To Kenney, only Kenney is capable of leading the UCP and Alberta. .“I think it would just set us up for a vote split and a re-election of a disastrous socialist government that will double down on the carbon taxes, make life more expensive for people, raise our taxes generally, bring in anti-business policies, surrender to Ottawa on everything, try to end out oil and gas sector, our largest job-creating industry, undermine parental authority…”.Then Kenney said he would strive for unity..“And friends, let me say this…in that anger there are some people emerging with truly extreme views, truly extreme views.” .Kenney implies strongly that the bulk of his opponents are racists with “truly extreme views.”.“One of the people running around the province right now, most actively organizing for a leadership review vote, is a gentleman named Todd Beasley. Now he is one of about 35 candidates that we did not permit to go on the ballot.”.Atta’s social media post listed several UCP MLAs and ministers in attendance..Beasley told the Western Standard he was taken out of context for comments he was disqualified for. .But the real issue now is Kenney’s failed leadership, he said..This month, two candidates who were challenging Kenney insiders to appear on the ballot as UCP candidates in the 2023 provincial election were disqualified on flimsy allegations of being hateful or following the social media accounts of hateful people..Vulcan County Councilor Jodie Gateman — who was vying to replace UCP Deputy House Leader Joseph Schow for the party’s nomination in Cardston-Siksika — was disqualified. .Kenney told a press conference Gateman had “a large track record of extreme and even hateful” social media posts, even though she was disqualified for just a single repost that alluded to race. .Her appeal was denied. She said she’s suing for defamation..Eckville cattle rancher Tim Hoven was challenging UCP House Leader and key-Kenney ally Jason Nixon in Rimbey-Rocky Mountain House-Sundre. He was disqualified on allegations of inappropriate social media activity on an inactive Gab account that the UCP claims is a platform used by white supremacist groups..Hoven appealed his disqualification..Both Gateman and Hoven were widely believed to be building solid challenges to Kenney’s allies. A defeat for either MLA would have been viewed as highly problematic for Kenney..One senior Kenney staffer tweeted: “The efforts to remove @jkenney as leader are largely driven by personal grudges & fringe views.” .Issues Manager Chad Hallman — behind a few controversial tweets — is employed with Issues Management Office, a department in Kenney’s Premier’s Office..He is also son of Alan Hallman, key political strategist for the premier..Hallman the Younger took aim at former Wildrose and PC MLA Ian Donovan; former Wildrose and UCP MLA Rick Strankman; former UCP nomination candidate Todd Beasley; Independent MLA Drew Barnes; Independent MLA Todd Loewen; and former Wildrose MLA (now Western Standard Publisher) Derek Fildebrandt..Kenney warmly embraced the endorsements of several of those names when he ran for the UCP leadership in 2017. He didn’t seem to have qualms about their “extreme views” then. .Kenney’s leadership review is April 9 in Red Deer..Slobodian is the Senior Manitoba Columnist for the Western Standard.lslobodian@westernstandardonline.com
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Alberta Premier Jason Kenney have something in common..They both run into a lot of racist, misogynist, extremists — some who even supposedly nurse big grudges..Odd how both Trudeau and Kenney expose these alleged black hearts with nefarious motives after they’ve been challenged by the very people they accuse of such terrible, awful things..Trudeau said it about the unvaccinated..Kenney — and his surrogates in the United Conservative Party (UCP) — manage to dig up alleged dirt about anyone who opposes his leadership..Trudeau trashed the unvaccinated during a September 2021 interview on the French-language program La semaine des 4 Julie..“They are extremists who don’t believe in science, they’re often misogynists, also often racists,” said Trudeau..As for Kenney, the closer his anticipated hotly-contested April 9 leadership review gets, the more allegedly hateful people he finds to warn Albertans about..Of course, the hatemongers are the ones who want him out as UCP leader and premier. .Dozens of disgruntled constituency associations voted to hold the early leadership review..Most recently, Kenney took a verbal swipe at former UCP nomination candidate Todd Beasley who was disqualified at the last moment in the 2019 nomination race in Brooks-Medicine Hat for posting what the party called “insensitive, inappropriate” comments on Facebook. .Beasley is now affiliated with the Wildrose Independence Party and continues an ongoing effort — that began before he was disqualified — to have Kenney removed as UCP leader..In a March 13 video posted on Facebook by Rana Atta, Kenney warned people at a meet and greet hosted by the Pakistan Canada Association Calgary that divisive, sinister forces were at work in the province, and surprise, surprise, these are the ones who want him out of a job..Kenney singled out Beasley when he spoke of the need for “common sense to navigate a sensible middle ground..“But some people don’t like the idea of compromise or common sense,” said Kenney..“Some people are very angry coming out of this and they want to express their anger at this leadership review on April 9th in a way that would unleash a hugely divisive fight within this party that I do not think we could heal from.”.To Kenney, only Kenney is capable of leading the UCP and Alberta. .“I think it would just set us up for a vote split and a re-election of a disastrous socialist government that will double down on the carbon taxes, make life more expensive for people, raise our taxes generally, bring in anti-business policies, surrender to Ottawa on everything, try to end out oil and gas sector, our largest job-creating industry, undermine parental authority…”.Then Kenney said he would strive for unity..“And friends, let me say this…in that anger there are some people emerging with truly extreme views, truly extreme views.” .Kenney implies strongly that the bulk of his opponents are racists with “truly extreme views.”.“One of the people running around the province right now, most actively organizing for a leadership review vote, is a gentleman named Todd Beasley. Now he is one of about 35 candidates that we did not permit to go on the ballot.”.Atta’s social media post listed several UCP MLAs and ministers in attendance..Beasley told the Western Standard he was taken out of context for comments he was disqualified for. .But the real issue now is Kenney’s failed leadership, he said..This month, two candidates who were challenging Kenney insiders to appear on the ballot as UCP candidates in the 2023 provincial election were disqualified on flimsy allegations of being hateful or following the social media accounts of hateful people..Vulcan County Councilor Jodie Gateman — who was vying to replace UCP Deputy House Leader Joseph Schow for the party’s nomination in Cardston-Siksika — was disqualified. .Kenney told a press conference Gateman had “a large track record of extreme and even hateful” social media posts, even though she was disqualified for just a single repost that alluded to race. .Her appeal was denied. She said she’s suing for defamation..Eckville cattle rancher Tim Hoven was challenging UCP House Leader and key-Kenney ally Jason Nixon in Rimbey-Rocky Mountain House-Sundre. He was disqualified on allegations of inappropriate social media activity on an inactive Gab account that the UCP claims is a platform used by white supremacist groups..Hoven appealed his disqualification..Both Gateman and Hoven were widely believed to be building solid challenges to Kenney’s allies. A defeat for either MLA would have been viewed as highly problematic for Kenney..One senior Kenney staffer tweeted: “The efforts to remove @jkenney as leader are largely driven by personal grudges & fringe views.” .Issues Manager Chad Hallman — behind a few controversial tweets — is employed with Issues Management Office, a department in Kenney’s Premier’s Office..He is also son of Alan Hallman, key political strategist for the premier..Hallman the Younger took aim at former Wildrose and PC MLA Ian Donovan; former Wildrose and UCP MLA Rick Strankman; former UCP nomination candidate Todd Beasley; Independent MLA Drew Barnes; Independent MLA Todd Loewen; and former Wildrose MLA (now Western Standard Publisher) Derek Fildebrandt..Kenney warmly embraced the endorsements of several of those names when he ran for the UCP leadership in 2017. He didn’t seem to have qualms about their “extreme views” then. .Kenney’s leadership review is April 9 in Red Deer..Slobodian is the Senior Manitoba Columnist for the Western Standard.lslobodian@westernstandardonline.com
