Date of publication: 16 Apr 2022 • 10 hours ago • 6 minutes reading • 168 Comments Alberta Prime Minister Jason Kenney: “I think the vast majority of Alberta Conservatives know that … it’s a unity or a period of NDP government, period.” Photo by Gavin Young / Postmedia / File
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EDMONTON – Alberta’s prime minister, Jason Kenny, is at odds over his political life.
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Ballots are now being mailed to members of his United Conservative Party, and party loyalists will have the opportunity to determine whether Kenney will remain leader of the party he formed in 2017 from the remnants of the Progressive Conservative Party and the Wildflows Party. The union lasted – it remains, but the COVID-19 pandemic has revealed deep fractures in Alberta’s right wing. Openly opposed members of the UCP parliamentary group have sparked internal debates over a leadership coup. And at a time when Alberta is recovering – beyond all expectations – from a multi-year economic downturn, with one year until the next election, Kenneth faces the risk of ousting his leadership. Last weekend, in a speech that kicked off the leadership review, Kenney revisited the leadership crises that have plagued conservatives in this Ralph Klein-era county, drawing a clear line between this internal conflict and its stunning 2015 victory. Rachel Notley’s New. Democrats who broke four decades of inconsistent conservative rule.
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However, in addition to this drama, Kenney vigorously promoted Alberta’s energy industry. Oil prices are at their highest level since 2014. In March, the government released a budget forecasting a surplus. And this week, Sen. Joe Manchin, a West Virginia Democrat and chairman of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, was in Alberta to discuss energy policy and boost Alberta and the idea of North American energy security. Jason Kenney spoke to the National Post on Thursday. This interview has been edited and summarized for the sake of clarity. Joe Mancin suggested a delegation from Alberta go to Washington. Is there a schedule update? I expect it to happen in May. He will be hearing about our idea for the North American Energy Alliance and has invited Alberta to give a talk – for me and other people from Alberta to come and describe the importance of the Canadian energy industry for North American energy security. .
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If you go to Washington, what would be some measure of success? Or specific things you would like to see achieved? Well, it’s difficult to define an accurate measurement. I will just say that getting the attention of the most powerful man in the US Congress, who spent two and a half days here, is a huge victory for Alberta. As you know, getting the attention of anyone in Washington is a challenge. Having an audience in front of American energy policy leaders and in Congress itself will be a great victory. No one is going to push a switch to build one pipeline – another pipeline – between Canada and the United States in the coming weeks. But we have to start somewhere. Alberta Prime Minister Jason Kenney meets US Senator Joe Manchin in Calgary on April 12, 2022. Photo by Darren Makowichuk / Postmedia / File I think that where there is a will there is a way. There may be a significant change in the US Congress in the meantime. We may have something close to an over-majority of both houses that want to build this pipeline – to build a pipeline – that want to displace OPEC imports by increasing Canadian imports.
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And so, you know, we’re going to continue the discussion about how to do that. Can Alberta meet demand if the focus shifts further to Canadian oil? If all our producers together maximize their current capacity and start some green growth for new production, yes. We always talk about petroleum products, but on the conventional side, they can add production very quickly with the right price signals and policy environment. So can we add a million barrels a day next year? No, but we could add a few hundred thousand if there was the right certainty. The leadership review is under way – are you, personally, the divisive figure in the party? It is certainly a small, highly motivated minority that has decided to get involved in this leadership review, to lead an agenda that is far beyond the prevailing trend. And ignoring that means ignoring what is obviously in front of us, okay?
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This is the reality we are facing, and I am doing my best to maintain it as a big tent, but still mainstream, center-right party. It’s easy; No. Will there be angry and marginal voices from time to time? Yes. But I pledge to stay on track with it and if we go to leadership elections, there is no doubt that the intensity of the passion will come from people who do not believe COVID ever happened, believe vaccines are deadly and want to get results for everything that’s all. I think that would be disastrous for the party. I think the majority of Alberta would have no idea they understood this debate. They would think that this is reckless and ignores the real concerns about bread and butter of most Alberta families, which are related to the economy, cost of living, inflation, housing, etc.
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Can the division of the party be healed? Yes, I believe we can overcome the tensions in our movement that arose during COVID. And I have little experience with that because I spent three years of my life rebuilding the United Conservative Party in Alberta. There were deep divisions, resentments and mistrust that had been created for over a decade. When I started this job, there were a lot of people at both inheritance parties who said, ‘Damn it, it will never happen. “I will never be in a room with these guys.” But we did the hard work, methodically and democratically, to build the new, united party.
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So I think the vast majority of Alberta Conservatives know that… is a unity or period of NDP government, period. But the main issue we have faced internally over the last two years has been the division over COVID. My argument is, let it fall in the mirror, the worst is behind us. Let us not permanently divide our movement and party in a crisis that occurs once a century, let us move on. I believe that as I roam the countryside, there is the vast majority of our members. You have said that 50 + 1 was the majority to remain a leader. Are you still standing at this number? Well, I would like to have as much support as possible, but I said that 50 percent plus one is a majority in a democracy. This is the number required in our constitution to confirm the leader in a revision vote.
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I know you all in the media want me to come up with an arbitrary figure, I’m not going to do that. I am optimistic that I will receive a strong approval from the members. I do not know what the number will be. And I will respect the result. If I receive this approval, I expect all members of our parliamentary group to respect it. If I am not approved by the members, I will humbly step aside and thank them for the privilege of having the best job in Canada. But I believe a significant majority of Alberta Conservatives will vote in favor of unity, stability and continuity. The Conservatives are on the hunt for a new leader. Which candidate do you support? My focus at the moment is, first of all, on ensuring the unity of our provincial party and on completing the work for the Albertans. Once we overcome our leadership criticism, I can turn my attention to it. I will say that I hope the next Conservative leader is someone committed to a strong future for the Canadian oil and gas industry. So I would be happy to talk to any of the candidates about those issues that are key to the future of Alberta’s economy. But, you know, I do not think we have seen all the candidates yet. And as I say, I’m focusing on the immediate challenges facing Alberta. • Email: [email protected] | Twitter: tylerrdawson
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