Don Braid, Calgary Herald - Yesterday
Many UCP politicians and activists are furious at Premier Jason Kenney for blaming his forced exit on anti-vaccine militants.
© Provided by Calgary Herald
Premier Jason Kenney announces his intention to resign after receiving just 51.4 per cent in the UCP leadership vote.
“Why is this guy still allowed in front of a microphone, saying things like this?” says one prominent UCP MLA, who asks not to be named.
“It’s frustrating and divisive and not reflective of where Alberta is going as a whole. It’s time to move on.”
The party critics say Kenney is refusing to admit his own failings, which they consider a far larger factor in the party rebellion than anti-vaccine sentiment.
Kenney’s approval rating was only 51.4 per cent. He announced his resignation May 18, to take effect when a new leader is chosen .
Longtime conservative activist Al Browne chaired regular meetings of 33 UCP riding presidents who were generally unhappy with Kenney.
“Why is this guy still allowed in front of a microphone, saying things like this?” says one prominent UCP MLA, who asks not to be named.
“It’s frustrating and divisive and not reflective of where Alberta is going as a whole. It’s time to move on.”
The party critics say Kenney is refusing to admit his own failings, which they consider a far larger factor in the party rebellion than anti-vaccine sentiment.
Kenney’s approval rating was only 51.4 per cent. He announced his resignation May 18, to take effect when a new leader is chosen .
Longtime conservative activist Al Browne chaired regular meetings of 33 UCP riding presidents who were generally unhappy with Kenney.
Over many conversations, Browne says, “every single president I dealt with indicated to me that they were vaccinated.
“In 16 months, I have not had one person talk about anti-vax. I don’t know where those anti-vax people are — in Saskatchewan, maybe?
“But did I hear about coal mining on the eastern slopes? Yes.
“Did I hear about doctors, nurses, the curriculum, too many staff from Ottawa? Yes.
“I don’t know why he keeps talking about anti-vaxxers. I’m not a psychiatrist, so I can’t tell you.”
© David Bloom
Rob Smith, president of Olds-Didsbury-Three Hills riding, said there was a “top-down attitude to government” with Kenney at the helm.
Rob Smith, president of the Olds-Didsbury-Three Hills riding association, says the talks often related to “the party being all about Kenney.
“There wasn’t respect paid to the grassroots, there was a very ivory-tower atmosphere where MLAs and even ministers were out of the loop. There is a top-down attitude to government.”
“The fact that his party said ‘we don’t want you’, and he’s still trying to blame it on those few anti-vaccination people, it doesn’t help anybody.
“But I don’t think we’re going to see any level of contrition from Kenney. That’s why I was against him staying as leader.”
In his remarks Tuesday, Kenney didn’t mention anything but anti-vaccine militancy as a factor in the disastrous vote.
Talking to reporters, Kenney blamed “a small but highly motivated, well-organized and very angry group of people who believe that I and the government have been promoting a part of some globalist agenda, and vaccines are at the heart of that.
“I don’t think most of these people have ever before been involved in a mainstream centre-right party and I suspect many of them won’t be in the future.”
While saying this group was “small,” Kenney also claimed a “huge” number of memberships were purchased by people who had never been UCP members before and probably belonged to far-right fringe parties.
© Azin Ghaffari
Rob Smith, president of the Olds-Didsbury-Three Hills riding association, says the talks often related to “the party being all about Kenney.
“There wasn’t respect paid to the grassroots, there was a very ivory-tower atmosphere where MLAs and even ministers were out of the loop. There is a top-down attitude to government.”
“The fact that his party said ‘we don’t want you’, and he’s still trying to blame it on those few anti-vaccination people, it doesn’t help anybody.
“But I don’t think we’re going to see any level of contrition from Kenney. That’s why I was against him staying as leader.”
In his remarks Tuesday, Kenney didn’t mention anything but anti-vaccine militancy as a factor in the disastrous vote.
Talking to reporters, Kenney blamed “a small but highly motivated, well-organized and very angry group of people who believe that I and the government have been promoting a part of some globalist agenda, and vaccines are at the heart of that.
“I don’t think most of these people have ever before been involved in a mainstream centre-right party and I suspect many of them won’t be in the future.”
While saying this group was “small,” Kenney also claimed a “huge” number of memberships were purchased by people who had never been UCP members before and probably belonged to far-right fringe parties.
© Azin Ghaffari
People protest COVID-19 vaccinations outside the Calgary Municipal Building on Jan. 6, 2021.
Kenney is giving the extreme anti-vax militants far more credit than they deserve. People who analyzed the vote don’t believe their influence was significant — especially after the party froze membership sales, and only then announced mail-in voting.
Another UCP MLA said: “Jason Kenney did not lose because of COVID and vaccine alone. That is not true. He lost because he spent the last year blaming other people for the errors he made. And he continues to do it today.
“This is exactly why he shouldn’t continue as leader now. Because all the candidates are going to have to answer, do you believe Jason Kenney is out because of anti-vaxxers?”
UCP MLAs have agreed among themselves not to speak on divisive internal issues, but some are so angry about Kenney’s remarks that they were willing to talk without names.
Often they resent being branded as anti-vaccination when they oppose measures like passports, but choose to be vaccinated themselves. It’s a complicated dynamic that Kenney now uses to deflect blame from other issues that cost him the premiership.
The premier’s political reputation stems from two factors: his long string of election victories and his reputation as an unbeatable organizer.
May 18 severely damaged both. It must be hard to accept.
Don Braid’s column appears regularly in the Calgary Herald.
Twitter: @DonBraid
Kenney is giving the extreme anti-vax militants far more credit than they deserve. People who analyzed the vote don’t believe their influence was significant — especially after the party froze membership sales, and only then announced mail-in voting.
Another UCP MLA said: “Jason Kenney did not lose because of COVID and vaccine alone. That is not true. He lost because he spent the last year blaming other people for the errors he made. And he continues to do it today.
“This is exactly why he shouldn’t continue as leader now. Because all the candidates are going to have to answer, do you believe Jason Kenney is out because of anti-vaxxers?”
UCP MLAs have agreed among themselves not to speak on divisive internal issues, but some are so angry about Kenney’s remarks that they were willing to talk without names.
Often they resent being branded as anti-vaccination when they oppose measures like passports, but choose to be vaccinated themselves. It’s a complicated dynamic that Kenney now uses to deflect blame from other issues that cost him the premiership.
The premier’s political reputation stems from two factors: his long string of election victories and his reputation as an unbeatable organizer.
May 18 severely damaged both. It must be hard to accept.
Don Braid’s column appears regularly in the Calgary Herald.
Twitter: @DonBraid
Bell: Jason Kenney is blameless, just ask him
Rick Bell - YESTERDAY
CALGARY SUN
© Provided by Calgary Sun
© Provided by Calgary Sun
Jason Kenney makes remarks to media and Alberta government cabinet members prior to a meeting in Calgary on Friday, May 20, 2022.
The premier finally faces questions from newshounds.
Even before this scribbler’s question, Kenney talks about how people very hostile to vaccines did him in on May 18 when he scored 51% support from UCP members .
Then I was up.
I was asking a question of a man who was a political superstar in Ottawa, came here, won an election in a landslide and then fell to earth once he took power, the fall beginning months before any virus.
Looking over his three years as premier and finding himself in a place he never expected to be, heading out the exit door, would he have done anything differently?
The short answer is No.
The longer answer is short on self-reflection but long on what sure sounds like self-pity.
Yes, for Kenney, the No vote on his leadership was mostly people angry about vaccines and those still angry about restrictions during COVID.
“And while I guess I could go back and nitpick about particular policies at particular times, generally I do not regret the difficult decisions we made to prevent total catastrophe in our hospitals.”
At this point, I’m thinking he’s got to mention something where he would like a do-over. He is not infallible.
He could take a page out of former premier Ralph Klein’s book, the master of admitting he screwed up.
No chance.
The premier trots out his Hostile Takeover Theory.
“There is a small, highly-motivated and very angry group of people who believe I and the government are part of some globalist agenda and the vaccines are at the heart of that.”
Kenney says these people have never been involved in a mainstream conservative party and he suspects many won’t be again.
But where were all the mainstream conservatives, the people Kenney acknowledges are a much, much bigger group to draw from for support?
Kenney had the vote on his leadership where he wanted, when he wanted and how he wanted it.
I wonder. Why didn’t the crowds of Kenney supporters the premier sees with his mind’s eye materialize, those souls who would deliver the premier a 70% or 75% Yes vote on his leadership?
Kenney moves on.
The premier says he has no regrets and talks about election promises kept, the balanced budget, the billions in new investment, his defence of the oilpatch, the boom in new businesses.
I wonder. With this good news and with oil prices through the roof, why was he still so unpopular?
I’m ready with a follow-up question.
I mention his approval rating hovering around 30% in the polls.
Two reputable nosecounts last week showed the UCP actually getting a bump-up in popularity once Kenney announced he was leaving.
The UCP is very much in the hunt.
What’s up?
Ah, the polls are wrong.
In the “real high-quality public opinion polling” the UCP has been in line to win another majority government for the last several months.
Kenney says his government is “in a good position.”
As for the polls I cited, from Leger and ThinkHQ, well, Kenney fires back.
“I would just point out to you, Rick, some of the pollsters to whom you are referring were off in predicting the results of the last election by 15 and 20 points.
“If you take them as an objective metric of Alberta politics, I would call that journalistic malpractice.”
Neither polling company says they were 15 and 20 points off the final result of the 2019 election.
No matter.
On the same day, Travis Toews, Kenney’s budget boss, rolls out his campaign to be the next UCP leader and premier .
The Calgary Chamber hosted Alberta’s Minister of Finance Travis Toews for a conversation on Budget 2022 at the Fairmont Palliser in Calgary on Monday, February 28, 2022.
All leadership hopefuls will be asked whether they are willing to distance themselves from the premier and by how much and in what ways.
Being Kenney 2 ain’t gonna cut it.
People say Toews will be willing to answer those questions.
“I believe in servant leadership,” says Toews. Kenney said the same thing.
“I believe in humility as a guiding principle for sound government,” says Toews. Kenney said he would stay humble. Boy, did he fail on that one.
“I believe we need to take time to listen.” Kenney NEVER listened.
“We must learn from our missteps.” Curious to hear what he thinks those are.
Just so you know, Kenney actually had more to say.
You know this will be his script when he hangs out with the high-and-mighties in the Canadian conservative establishment.
“I would point out a majority of party members voted to express confidence in my leadership.”
Yes, 51%.
“I don’t think mainstream conservatives are anything but proud of the legacy of the government.”
I feel like screaming. It’s about YOU! It’s about YOU! Didn’t you see the warning signs? Didn’t you read the stories? Didn’t you hear the people?
And all this as we approach the first anniversary of the premier’s Sky Palace patio soiree .
Kenney is back on the small group “far down the conspiracy rabbit hole” he figures toppled him from power.
It’s sad the man himself is far down a rabbit hole of his own making.
rbell@postmedia.com
The premier finally faces questions from newshounds.
Even before this scribbler’s question, Kenney talks about how people very hostile to vaccines did him in on May 18 when he scored 51% support from UCP members .
Then I was up.
I was asking a question of a man who was a political superstar in Ottawa, came here, won an election in a landslide and then fell to earth once he took power, the fall beginning months before any virus.
Looking over his three years as premier and finding himself in a place he never expected to be, heading out the exit door, would he have done anything differently?
The short answer is No.
The longer answer is short on self-reflection but long on what sure sounds like self-pity.
Yes, for Kenney, the No vote on his leadership was mostly people angry about vaccines and those still angry about restrictions during COVID.
“And while I guess I could go back and nitpick about particular policies at particular times, generally I do not regret the difficult decisions we made to prevent total catastrophe in our hospitals.”
At this point, I’m thinking he’s got to mention something where he would like a do-over. He is not infallible.
He could take a page out of former premier Ralph Klein’s book, the master of admitting he screwed up.
No chance.
The premier trots out his Hostile Takeover Theory.
“There is a small, highly-motivated and very angry group of people who believe I and the government are part of some globalist agenda and the vaccines are at the heart of that.”
Kenney says these people have never been involved in a mainstream conservative party and he suspects many won’t be again.
But where were all the mainstream conservatives, the people Kenney acknowledges are a much, much bigger group to draw from for support?
Kenney had the vote on his leadership where he wanted, when he wanted and how he wanted it.
I wonder. Why didn’t the crowds of Kenney supporters the premier sees with his mind’s eye materialize, those souls who would deliver the premier a 70% or 75% Yes vote on his leadership?
Kenney moves on.
The premier says he has no regrets and talks about election promises kept, the balanced budget, the billions in new investment, his defence of the oilpatch, the boom in new businesses.
I wonder. With this good news and with oil prices through the roof, why was he still so unpopular?
I’m ready with a follow-up question.
I mention his approval rating hovering around 30% in the polls.
Two reputable nosecounts last week showed the UCP actually getting a bump-up in popularity once Kenney announced he was leaving.
The UCP is very much in the hunt.
What’s up?
Ah, the polls are wrong.
In the “real high-quality public opinion polling” the UCP has been in line to win another majority government for the last several months.
Kenney says his government is “in a good position.”
As for the polls I cited, from Leger and ThinkHQ, well, Kenney fires back.
“I would just point out to you, Rick, some of the pollsters to whom you are referring were off in predicting the results of the last election by 15 and 20 points.
“If you take them as an objective metric of Alberta politics, I would call that journalistic malpractice.”
Neither polling company says they were 15 and 20 points off the final result of the 2019 election.
No matter.
On the same day, Travis Toews, Kenney’s budget boss, rolls out his campaign to be the next UCP leader and premier .
The Calgary Chamber hosted Alberta’s Minister of Finance Travis Toews for a conversation on Budget 2022 at the Fairmont Palliser in Calgary on Monday, February 28, 2022.
All leadership hopefuls will be asked whether they are willing to distance themselves from the premier and by how much and in what ways.
Being Kenney 2 ain’t gonna cut it.
People say Toews will be willing to answer those questions.
“I believe in servant leadership,” says Toews. Kenney said the same thing.
“I believe in humility as a guiding principle for sound government,” says Toews. Kenney said he would stay humble. Boy, did he fail on that one.
“I believe we need to take time to listen.” Kenney NEVER listened.
“We must learn from our missteps.” Curious to hear what he thinks those are.
Just so you know, Kenney actually had more to say.
You know this will be his script when he hangs out with the high-and-mighties in the Canadian conservative establishment.
“I would point out a majority of party members voted to express confidence in my leadership.”
Yes, 51%.
“I don’t think mainstream conservatives are anything but proud of the legacy of the government.”
I feel like screaming. It’s about YOU! It’s about YOU! Didn’t you see the warning signs? Didn’t you read the stories? Didn’t you hear the people?
And all this as we approach the first anniversary of the premier’s Sky Palace patio soiree .
Kenney is back on the small group “far down the conspiracy rabbit hole” he figures toppled him from power.
It’s sad the man himself is far down a rabbit hole of his own making.
rbell@postmedia.com
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