Premier Jason Kenney and now former UCP MLA Todd Loewen during a campaign video shot at Historic Dunvegan during the 2019 election campaign (Photo courtesy of the United Conservative Party)

By Shaun Penner

“I wish him well”: Kenney holding no ill will towards MLA Loewen despite calls for his resignation

Jul 12, 2021 | 10:09 AM

GRANDE PRAIRIE, AB – Premier Jason Kenney says he holds no ill will towards Central Peace-Notley MLA Todd Loewen and wishes him well, despite Loewen being removed from the United Conservative Party caucus back in May after he openly called for Kenney to resign as the party’s leader.

That call from the Peace Region MLA came in the form of an open letter he posted to his social media accounts, citing a litany of “persistent problems” like the province’s dealings with the federal government, negotiations with physicians, and caucus dysfunction, which he felt all rooted from Kenney’s leadership.

READ MORE: MLA Loewen stepping down as UCP caucus chair, calls for Kenney to resign

“It was his right to say the things he wanted to say, and I wish him well,” said Kenney, who sat down with LNN’s sister station EverythingGP last week. “I wish him no ill will what-so-ever.”

Less than 24 hours after Loewen had posted the letter on social media, where he also announced he had stepped down as the caucus chair for the party, an emergency caucus meeting was held to discuss the internal issues within the UCP.

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It was during that meeting that a vote was held, where Loewen and Cypress-Medicine Hat MLA Drew Barnes were voted out of the party by their fellow UCP MLAs.

Loewen and Barnes, as well as former UCP MLA for Lesser Slave Lake Pat Rehn, now sit as Independents in the Alberta Legislature.

“Our caucus is a team, and for a caucus to work together there has to be a certain degree of trust and unity,” said Kenney. “And if you have somebody that decides they are going to constantly attack the team, and the leadership of the team, then it ultimately does not work.”

Another key issue of note for Loewen was a feeling that caucus members were not being listened to by their leader.

Loewen stated that Albertans expect him and other MLAs to bring their issues to the government. He further went on to state that while he and other UCP MLAs have tried “repeatedly” to raise those issues with party leadership, they are only to be “ignored and dismissed.”

“We have more opportunities for MLA input into government decision making than I believe any government in Alberta history,” Kenney claimed. “Certainly, more than any government I have ever seen.”

Kenney added that while he supports any MLA to speak their mind and represent their constituents as they see fit, a caucus of 60 (formerly 62 before the removal of Loewen and Barnes) MLAs can only have one united message.

“At the end of the day, it is about building consensus. You cannot have 60 different government positions. You have to land on one direction,” said Kenney. “All of those other MLAs do that.”

Shortly after being removed from the party in May, Loewen told EverythingGP he still wants the United Conservative Party to succeed, despite him currently not being a part of it.

He also would not rule out a return to the party he helped build over the last decade if the opportunity were to come about.

“I would hope that the party can win the next election. That is my hope,” said Loewen, in May. “I don’t believe that is possible under this leader.”

The UCP Constituency Association for Central Peace-Notley also remains committed to Loewen, as they passed a resolution last month to continue to recognize Loewen as the party’s representative in the riding that includes Valleyview, Fairview, Spirit River, and Fox Creek.

READ MORE: UCP Central Peace-Notley Constituency Association backing Loewen

While Kenney did not comment on whether he would be open to a reunion with Loewen in the party, he told EverythingGP his government is just looking to move forward and get back on track.

“We’re going to continue to deliver focussed on, not internal politics, and please God not on COVID anymore, but on what we were elected to do: Jobs, economy and pipelines.”