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Many UCP politicians and activists are furious with Prime Minister Jason Kenny for forcing vaccine fighters to leave
Author of the article:
Don Bride • Calgary Herald
Publication date:
June 1, 2022 • 3 hours ago • 3 minutes reading • 25 comments Prime Minister Jason Kenny announced his intention to resign after receiving only 51.4 percent of the vote in the UCP leadership. Photo by Jim Wells / Postmedia
Content of the article
Many UCP politicians and activists are furious with Prime Minister Jason Kenny for blaming vaccine fighters for forcing him out.
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“Why is this person still allowed to speak in front of a microphone and say such things?” Said a UCP MLA spokesman who asked not to be named.
“It’s frustrating and divisive and it doesn’t reflect where Alberta is going. It’s time to move on. “
Critics of the party say Kenny refuses to admit his own mistakes, which they see as a much bigger factor in the party’s revolt than anti-vaccine sentiment.
Kenny’s approval rating is only 51.4%. He announced his resignation on May 18th to take effect when a new leader is elected.
Longtime conservative activist Al Brown chaired regular meetings of 33 UCP presidents, who were generally unhappy with Kenny.
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In many conversations, Brown says, “Every president I’ve worked with has told me he’s been vaccinated.
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“I haven’t had a single person talk about anti-wax in 16 months. I don’t know where these people are against wax – in Saskatchewan, maybe?
“But have I heard of coal mining on the eastern slopes?” Yes.
“Have I heard of doctors, nurses, the curriculum, too many Ottawa staff?” Yes.
“I don’t know why he keeps talking about anti-waxers. I’m not a psychiatrist, so I can’t tell you. “
Rob Smith, president of Olds-Didsbury-Three Hills Riding, said he has a “top-down attitude toward government” led by Kenny. Photo by David Bloom / Postmedia
Rob Smith, president of the Olds-Didsbury-Three Hills Riding Association, says the conversations are often about “the party is all about Kenny.”
“There was no respect for the people, there was an atmosphere of an ivory tower, where international legal relations and even ministers were out of reach. It has a top-down attitude towards the government. “
“The fact that his party said ‘we don’t want you’ and he’s still trying to blame these few people against the vaccination doesn’t help anyone.
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“But I don’t think we’re going to see any level of Kenny’s remorse. That’s why I was against him remaining the leader. “
In a speech Tuesday, Kenny mentioned nothing but militancy against vaccines as a factor in the disastrous vote.
Speaking to reporters, Kenny accused a small but highly motivated, well-organized and very angry group of people who believe that the government and I are promoting part of a globalist program, and vaccines are at the heart of it.
“I do not think that most of these people have ever been in a major center-right party, and I suspect that many of them will not be in the future.
While saying the group was “small”, Kenny also said a “huge” number of members had been bought by people who had never been members of the UCP before and probably belonged to far-right parties.
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People protest COVID-19 vaccinations in front of the Calgary municipality building on January 6, 2021. Photo: Azin Ghaffari / Postmedia
Kenny gives the final wax fighters a lot more credit than they deserve. People who analyzed the vote do not believe their influence was significant – especially after the party froze membership sales and only then announced a postal vote.
Another UCP MLA said: “Jason Kenny didn’t lose just because of COVID and the vaccine. This is not true. He lost because he spent the last year blaming other people for the mistakes he made. And he continues to do so today.
“That is why he should not continue as a leader now. Since all candidates will have to answer, do you believe Jason Kenny left because of anti-waxers?
UCP MPs have agreed not to talk about divisive domestic issues, but some are so angry at Kenny’s remarks that they are willing to speak without names.
They are often outraged that they are stigmatized as anti-vaccine when they oppose measures such as passports, but choose to be vaccinated themselves. This is a complex dynamic that Kenny is now using to divert the blame from other problems that have cost him the post of prime minister.
The prime minister’s political reputation stems from two factors: his long line of electoral victories and his reputation as an invincible organizer.
May 18 seriously damaged both. It must be hard to accept.
Don Braid’s column appears regularly in the Calgary Herald.
Twitter: @DonBraid
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