Travis Tows wants to be Alberta’s next prime minister.
On Tuesday, Tows resigned as provincial finance minister and launched his campaign to lead the United Conservative Party in the next provincial election.
Although others have signaled their candidacy, Toews is the first candidate to formally join the race as the party prepares to replace outgoing Prime Minister Jason Kenny.
“What saddened me the most was the division that had formed in our communities – in business, in churches, in families and, of course, in politics,” Tows said in a video from the campaign, published online. “Right now, as a movement and a province, we need to unite.”
Kenny plans to stay on top until UCP members elect a new leader. The party has appointed a steering committee to decide the rules, the participation fee and the schedule for the competition.
Speaking at an unrelated press conference on Tuesday, Kenny said Toews sent a letter the same morning, leaving his post as finance minister and chairman of the finance board.
“He did a fantastic job in that role,” Kenny said. “I will not support any candidate for leadership. I think it is perfectly normal for a leader to avoid approving candidates.”
Kenny said he expects other ministers to leave the cabinet soon after considering running to replace him as leader.
He said his plan was to appoint interim ministers “until I know the full structure of the land” and then formally reshuffle the cabinet.
Toews officially registered for the campaign on May 30, according to the Elections Alberta website.
A Chartered Accountant and Ranch, the MLA for Grande Prairie-Wapiti was first elected in April 2019 and has served as Minister of Finance ever since.
In the video for the start of his campaign, a cowboy hat dressed in Toews grazes cattle and rides a horse as he talks about his hopes of returning to the UCP’s vision for the province revealed in the 2019 election campaign.
“I am running to bring our party back to the foundations that united us. It’s time to put our differences aside to focus on our shared vision.
Join Travis in pic.twitter.com/nez50M2rfX
– @ ToewsforAlberta
A lifelong Albert with three children and 11 grandchildren, Tows stressed the importance of “humility as a guiding principle” for good governance. He said he wanted to listen to party members and Alberts to regain his trust.
“I was – I am – a passionate Albertan, inspired by this movement, and I believe that Alberts and our members can be inspired again,” he said.
Although no other candidate is officially registered with Elections Alberta, he will probably not be alone in the wake of the summer campaign.
Several candidates are already struggling to replace Kenny, who announced his resignation earlier this month after winning 51.4% in a party leadership review.
In Reflection Now: Sawhney
Former Wildrose opposition leader and media personality Daniel Smith has said he will run in the leadership race, as well as another former Wildrose and opposition leader, Fort McMurray-Lac La Biche MLA Brian Jean.
In an email statement, Jean welcomed Toews to the race.
“It is important to restore the United Conservative Party as a party against which all sane Alberta voters can unite and defeat the NDP’s bad policies in next year’s election,” he said.
Other ministers considering running are Children’s Services Minister Rebecca Schultz and Transport Minister Rajan Sony.
On his way to a cabinet meeting on Tuesday, Soney said he has an internal timetable for deciding to apply, but has yet to disclose that.
Asked if she would support Toews’ leadership, Sawhney said: “I wish him success, but obviously I’m in the discussion right now. Travis is a wonderful man, but what this race needs right now is just no more than the same. “
Later Tuesday, Sowney said on Twitter that she had hired conservative political adviser Ken Boesencol to test the viability of a leadership campaign that “may appeal to various elements of our party.”
I got involved
I asked him if we could run a viable campaign that was not just more than the same. pic.twitter.com/TxhTkOjpAO
– @RajanJSaw
Over the weekend, former Saskatchewan Prime Minister Brad Wall tweeted that political observers in Alberta should put Schultz on their leadership radar.
Two quick comments from Sk man, neighbor / observer. thank the
– @ BradWall306
Schultz said Tuesday she was honored by the approval. She worked for the Wall government before moving to Alberta.
“My decision will be based on what I believe is in the best interests of our party, our movement and the province of Alberta,” she said.
Children’s Services Minister Rebecca Schultz, second from left, sits with children at the Little Worlds Learning Center during a funding announcement in April 2022 (Mike Simington / CBC)
Also Tuesday, Labor and Immigration Minister Casey Madou said he had “no comment” when asked if he was interested in a leadership position. Education Minister Adriana Lagrange rejected this, giving an unequivocal “no”.
The party wants to find a replacement for Kenny before the autumn session of the legislature begins on October 31.
This is also the last summer before the next scheduled date for provincial elections on or before May 29, 2023.
Alberta’s Prime Minister Jason Kenny shakes hands with Travis Tows, chairman of the Treasury and Secretary of the Treasury, after taking the oath of office in Edmonton on April 30, 2019 (Jason Franson / The Canadian Press)
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