Premier Jason Kenney during a speech at the Lethbridge Airport on May 11, 2022. (Photo: Lethbridge News Now)

By David Opinko

Kenney “confident” he will win UCP leadership review vote

May 12, 2022 | 1:06 PM

LETHBRIDGE, AB – The leader of Alberta’s United Conservative Party (UCP) believes he will remain in that position going forward.

The deadline to submit ballots for the UCP leadership review vote for party leader and premier Jason Kenney was Wednesday, May 11, 2022. If he is not able to secure support from more than 50% of party members, a new leadership race will be called.

Despite facing some opposition within his own caucus, Kenney said during a stop in Lethbridge this week that he does not have anything to worry about.

“I’m confident that I’ll receive an endorsement from the members of the United Conservative Party who want to move forward, united into the future,” said Kenney.

The premier touted his own record as party leader, claiming that the UCP has delivered on 90% of its election commitments and that Alberta is leading the country in economic growth and job diversification.

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He said if UCP members want to maintain stability and continuity, he expects that they will vote to keep him in the leadership seat.

Some within Kenney’s own caucus have been vocal in their opposition to his leadership and have called for Kenney to resign. There are two main things that Kenney’s critics have been vocal about: his management style as party leader and the implementation of COVID-19 restrictions.

When it comes to his management style as party leader, Kenney believes that he has “provided a greater latitude for people to speak their minds than any leader I’ve ever worked with in the past.”

Kenney believes that, while putting restrictions on the daily lives of Albertans was never something he wanted to do, it was necessary given the severity of the pandemic.

“I know that there are some people who are still angry about COVID and the fact that government had to bring in some unpopular restrictions,” said Kenney. “I hear those folks, I respect their views, but I think we know, as conservatives, we can only win if we’re united. I think that’s the view of the vast majority of our members.”

Earlier this month, UCP MLA Brian Jean asked Elections Alberta to investigate allegations that bulk memberships were purchased to bolster support for Kenney in the leadership review vote. Kenney dismissed those accusations as “just silliness.”

“All of that is verified. It’s all audited,” said Kenney. “All the paperwork is there to prove that those were all individual purchases with people’s consent and payment. So, this is unfortunate that some people continue to want to distract. So, I think that’s coming from folks who, for whatever reason, are more focused on division than unity.”

Results from the UCP leadership review vote are expected on Wednesday, May 19, 2022.

Regardless of what the outcome is, Kenney said he will accept it.

READ MORE: UCP leadership review of Alberta Premier Jason Kenney officially begins