UCP RIGHT WING REVOLT UPDATED
'We did not unite around blind loyalty to one man:' Kenney faces call to quit
WHEN HE DOES HE HAS TO CALL AN ELECTION
EDMONTON — A United Conservative senior backbencher publicly calling on Alberta Premier Jason Kenney to resign says it’s about keeping the party from spiralling toward electoral disaster.
EDMONTON — A United Conservative senior backbencher publicly calling on Alberta Premier Jason Kenney to resign says it’s about keeping the party from spiralling toward electoral disaster.
© Provided by The Canadian Press
Todd Loewen said Thursday he wants the UCP to thrive and survive but too many volunteers and board members are throwing up their hands and quitting under Kenney’s leadership.
“The people are upset. They are leaving the party,” Loewen told radio station 630 CHED in an interview. “We need to do what it takes to stop the bleeding.
"We need to have our constituency associations strong. We’ve got to quit losing board members.
“The majority of people I’m talking to, they want a strong UCP party. But they don’t see that they have that now. We need to have that so we can move forward and be able to form government in 2023.”
Loewen’s comments follow weeks of bubbling internal discontent within Kenney’s UCP caucus that has now boiled over into an open challenge to his leadership.
Earlier Thursday, Loewen, in a letter to Kenney posted on Facebook, called on the premier to resign, saying he no longer sees the commitment to teamwork and party principles.
“We did not unite around blind loyalty to one man. And while you promoted unity, it is clear that unity is falling apart,” writes Loewen.
He accused Kenney and his government of weak dealings with Ottawa, ignoring caucus members, delivering contradictory messages, and botching critical issues such as negotiations with doctors and a controversy over coal mining in the Rocky Mountains.
“Many Albertans, including myself, no longer have confidence in your leadership," Loewen says in the letter.
“I thank you for your service, but I am asking that you resign so that we can begin to put the province back together again.”
Kenney's office did not respond to a request for comment.
Loewen is the member for Central Peace-Notley, a sprawling rural constituency in northern Alberta.
He later received a message of support from a second UCP backbencher, Dave Hanson.
Hanson wrote on Facebook: “Todd, I applaud your courage and stand behind your decision.
“I hear the same thing from our supporters in my area. I along with many of our colleagues share in your frustration.”
Hanson represents Bonnyville-Cold Lake-St. Paul, a rural constituency northeast of Edmonton.
They are two of 18 UCP backbench members who broke with the government in early April over restrictions aimed at reducing the spread of COVID-19. The group said the rules were needlessly restrictive and infringed on personal freedoms. Sixteen wrote an open letter expressing those concerns.
Kenney has tolerated the open dissension for weeks. He has said he believes in free speech and that backbenchers are not in cabinet and don’t speak for his government. But Loewen is the first to openly challenge Kenney.
In his letter, Loewen also resigned as caucus chair. He said he needed to do so to speak his mind but has no intention of leaving the party.
“The caucus dysfunction we are presently experiencing is a direct result of your leadership,” he writes.
“I no longer believe that caucus can function properly: meetings have been cancelled without members’ consent, significant decisions of government have been made without notice to members, and our input as elected members is rarely considered.”
He said the caucus has tried to be heard but is ignored. And he said when caucus is ignored, their constituents are ignored.
“These folks have not abandoned the principles and values of the UCP, but they have abandoned you specifically," writes Loewen.
Kenney’s poll numbers have dropped precipitously during the pandemic while those of Rachel Notley’s NDP have climbed.
Notley said regardless of Kenney’s internal political troubles, Albertans need to see him focus on governing the province and steering it through the pandemic.
Alberta has seen in recent weeks some of the highest COVID-19 case rates in North America that threaten to swamp the province’s health system.
“It’s not looking good,” said Notley.
“What we need as a result is for the premier to clean up his house, get his house in order and provide the kind of leadership that Albertans desperately need during one of the most challenging times in our history.”
There were rumours of a widening internal UCP breach two weeks ago, when Kenney suspended the legislature's spring sitting. He said it was to keep staff and legislature members safe from COVID-19.
On Wednesday, the government extended the hiatus for another week.
Loewen’s letter comes a week after Kenney risked further pushback from dissidents by imposing extra health restrictions along with stepped-up enforcement to stop soaring COVID-19 infections.
Political scientist Duane Bratt said it looked like Kenney had struck a truce with the dissidents, but the dam appears to be breaking.
“I don’t think (Loewen) is a person coming out on his own,” said Bratt, who is with Mount Royal University in Calgary.
“I think you’re going to hear more coming on the record after this."
Political scientist Jared Wesley said Kenney has no choice but to turf Loewen from caucus.
“It’s hard to imagine a world in which you can call for your leader’s resignation and still remain a part of caucus,” said Wesley of the University of Alberta.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 13, 2021.
Dean Bennett, The Canadian Press
Todd Loewen said Thursday he wants the UCP to thrive and survive but too many volunteers and board members are throwing up their hands and quitting under Kenney’s leadership.
“The people are upset. They are leaving the party,” Loewen told radio station 630 CHED in an interview. “We need to do what it takes to stop the bleeding.
"We need to have our constituency associations strong. We’ve got to quit losing board members.
“The majority of people I’m talking to, they want a strong UCP party. But they don’t see that they have that now. We need to have that so we can move forward and be able to form government in 2023.”
Loewen’s comments follow weeks of bubbling internal discontent within Kenney’s UCP caucus that has now boiled over into an open challenge to his leadership.
Earlier Thursday, Loewen, in a letter to Kenney posted on Facebook, called on the premier to resign, saying he no longer sees the commitment to teamwork and party principles.
“We did not unite around blind loyalty to one man. And while you promoted unity, it is clear that unity is falling apart,” writes Loewen.
He accused Kenney and his government of weak dealings with Ottawa, ignoring caucus members, delivering contradictory messages, and botching critical issues such as negotiations with doctors and a controversy over coal mining in the Rocky Mountains.
“Many Albertans, including myself, no longer have confidence in your leadership," Loewen says in the letter.
“I thank you for your service, but I am asking that you resign so that we can begin to put the province back together again.”
Kenney's office did not respond to a request for comment.
Loewen is the member for Central Peace-Notley, a sprawling rural constituency in northern Alberta.
He later received a message of support from a second UCP backbencher, Dave Hanson.
Hanson wrote on Facebook: “Todd, I applaud your courage and stand behind your decision.
“I hear the same thing from our supporters in my area. I along with many of our colleagues share in your frustration.”
Hanson represents Bonnyville-Cold Lake-St. Paul, a rural constituency northeast of Edmonton.
They are two of 18 UCP backbench members who broke with the government in early April over restrictions aimed at reducing the spread of COVID-19. The group said the rules were needlessly restrictive and infringed on personal freedoms. Sixteen wrote an open letter expressing those concerns.
Kenney has tolerated the open dissension for weeks. He has said he believes in free speech and that backbenchers are not in cabinet and don’t speak for his government. But Loewen is the first to openly challenge Kenney.
In his letter, Loewen also resigned as caucus chair. He said he needed to do so to speak his mind but has no intention of leaving the party.
“The caucus dysfunction we are presently experiencing is a direct result of your leadership,” he writes.
“I no longer believe that caucus can function properly: meetings have been cancelled without members’ consent, significant decisions of government have been made without notice to members, and our input as elected members is rarely considered.”
He said the caucus has tried to be heard but is ignored. And he said when caucus is ignored, their constituents are ignored.
“These folks have not abandoned the principles and values of the UCP, but they have abandoned you specifically," writes Loewen.
Kenney’s poll numbers have dropped precipitously during the pandemic while those of Rachel Notley’s NDP have climbed.
Notley said regardless of Kenney’s internal political troubles, Albertans need to see him focus on governing the province and steering it through the pandemic.
Alberta has seen in recent weeks some of the highest COVID-19 case rates in North America that threaten to swamp the province’s health system.
“It’s not looking good,” said Notley.
“What we need as a result is for the premier to clean up his house, get his house in order and provide the kind of leadership that Albertans desperately need during one of the most challenging times in our history.”
There were rumours of a widening internal UCP breach two weeks ago, when Kenney suspended the legislature's spring sitting. He said it was to keep staff and legislature members safe from COVID-19.
On Wednesday, the government extended the hiatus for another week.
Loewen’s letter comes a week after Kenney risked further pushback from dissidents by imposing extra health restrictions along with stepped-up enforcement to stop soaring COVID-19 infections.
Political scientist Duane Bratt said it looked like Kenney had struck a truce with the dissidents, but the dam appears to be breaking.
“I don’t think (Loewen) is a person coming out on his own,” said Bratt, who is with Mount Royal University in Calgary.
“I think you’re going to hear more coming on the record after this."
Political scientist Jared Wesley said Kenney has no choice but to turf Loewen from caucus.
“It’s hard to imagine a world in which you can call for your leader’s resignation and still remain a part of caucus,” said Wesley of the University of Alberta.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 13, 2021.
Dean Bennett, The Canadian Press
cbc.caKenney has to choose between two unsavoury options, says political scientist
Duration: 01:57
University of Alberta political scientist Jared Wesley says MLA Todd Loewen's letter is rare in Canadian politics and is unlikely to have been written without consulting other caucus members.
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