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“We agreed that we must remain united, focused on the best interests of the Alberts, and commit to doing the work that the Alberts have chosen us to do.”
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May 19, 2022 • 1 hour ago • 4 minutes reading • 37 comments Jason Kenny speaks at an event at Spruce Meadows in Calgary on Wednesday, May 18, 2022. During a speech, he announced his resignation as leader of the Alberta Party UCP . Jim Wells / Postmedia
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Jason Kenny will remain the leader of the UCP until a new party leader is elected.
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UCP group chairman Nathan Neudorf issued a statement Thursday night after a six-hour group meeting, saying the group had “vigorously discussed” the future of the party and government and decided to confirm Kenny as leader.
“We agreed that we must remain united, focused on the best interests of the Alberts and committed to doing the work that the Alberts have chosen us to do,” Neudorf said. “In this spirit, we have confirmed that Prime Minister Jason Kenny will continue to lead our group and government until a new leader is elected, the timing of which will be determined by the United Conservative Party.
The group’s meeting came a day after Kenny announced his intention to resign as leader after receiving just over 51% support in a leadership review. Kenny issued a public letter Thursday to UCP Secretary Janice Net confirming the intention.
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Ahead of a rally at McDougall Center in downtown Calgary on Thursday, Fort McMurray-Lac La Biche MLA Brian Jean, one of Kenny’s most vocal critics and a confirmed contender for the top job, said the prime minister should be removed immediately. to allow the party to start “healing”.
“The healing process cannot begin until Jason Kenny leaves. He knows this, we know this and we need to start the process of renewing the UCP, “said Jean. “Kenny knows the parliamentary tradition. It would be a parliamentary tradition for him to resign immediately.
Heading to the meeting, Chestermer-Stratmore MLA leader Leila Ahir, who was critical of Kenny’s leadership before being removed from the cabinet, said Wednesday was a day of opportunity for the party.
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“The only thing most of us wanted was to have a leadership race and be able to engage with our audience and win back their trust,” Ahir said. “I just think it’s a beautiful moment for us to see what’s going on with all this.
Chestermere-Strathmore MLA Leela Aheer spoke to the media at the McDougall Center in Calgary before a meeting of the UCP group on Thursday, May 19, 2022. Gavin Young / Postmedia
Several MLAs seemed determined to have a new leader by the end of the rally, such as MLA Calgary-Fish Creek Richard Gottfried, who was critical of Kenny, saying he was willing to take as long as it took to happen.
“I will stay here until three in the morning, if necessary, to finish this. But we must seize the opportunity now, “Gottfried said. “The signal came from the people of Albert, now is the time to take this opportunity with the reset button and move forward boldly.”
Prior to announcing that Kenny would remain, Lori Williams, a political scientist at Mount Royal University, said the party leader, whoever he was, would have work to do to address concerns both inside and outside the party.
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“If UCP wants a fresh start, the sooner they start, the better,” Williams said.
Before the results of the leadership review were made public, Kenny had said he would need only 50 percent plus one result to stay, saying it was a majority in the democratic system.
Williams said she was surprised to hear Kenny’s resignation because of the comments. She said she was not sure if he had decided to retire himself or had been persuaded by others, but that Thursday’s group and the opposition he would face may have taken the decision into account.
Many UCP MLAs entering the McDougall Center have remained silent on whether to show their names for the top spot. Ahir said he believed that if she was to be the interim leader, someone else would have to reveal her name.
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MLA for Innisfail-Sylvan Lake Devin Dreeshen spoke to the media at the McDougall Center in Calgary before a UCP meeting on Thursday, May 19, 2022. Gavin Young / Postmedia
Innisfail-Sylvan Lake MLA Devin Drischen declined to comment, saying it was an “interesting question” when asked if he would give his name. He said the party has a lot of work to do and must remember that their political opponents are the NDP and not each other.
“I think (Kenny’s) team was really surprised. “I think they thought they had it in their bag, and I think 51 percent really shocked a lot of people,” Drishen said.
At the start of the leadership review, senior political officials went on Twitter to compare party members who disagreed with Kenny with clowns and often criticized Jean and her fellow critic and former Wildrose leader Daniel Smith for failing. to win the general elections in the past.
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NDP leader Rachel Notley said on Thursday that her party is united and ready to take over the leader of the UCP in next year’s general election.
“Our message is that we are ready, no matter who the leader is. We are more than ready, so it doesn’t matter who leads them in the next election. The fact is that they have a record and I will face that at any time, “said Notley.
Meanwhile, Smith announced on Thursday his intention to seek the top job at the UCP. She thanked Kenny for his time as prime minister, but called the leadership review a real resolution for ordinary people.
– With files from Michael Rodriguez and Brittany Gervais
dshort@postmedia.com
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